Finally, J.Cole is back with a new hit song “Middle Child” which was released in January 2019. Even if you are not a J.Cole fan, it is hard to dislike this song. The instantaneous up tempo beat that is unlike the usual new age hip hop beat combined of course with meaningful lyrics makes this an instant hit with any hip hop fan.
The instrumental was the first thing that stood out to me in this song. Even though it contains a typical hip hop drum set, the inclusion of other instruments is what sets it apart from other songs. Cole then comes in with hard hitting lyrics, “Im counting my bullets. I’m loading my clips. I’m writing down names. Im making a list. I’m checking it twice and I’m getting them hit”. These bars just draw you into the song to hear more about Cole’s life.
Cole’s flow in this song, like in his other songs, is amazing. It has a choppier sound, but you do not hear the choppiness in his voice. It’s very smooth while he raps, which is pleasing to the ear. He slows down his flow in the hook, which makes it easier to sing along to and so you can completely hear the lyrics. Although the hooks lyrics represents a more generic hook as far as content, Cole manages to still make it meaningful and unique by adding bars such as, “money in your palm don’t make it real”. That line stood out to me as something you don’t hear much in rap music, since normally the artist brags about their money.
I may only be an average J.Cole fan, but I am in love with this song. It was produced and written well and also is appropriate enough to make airplay to the radio. I would not say this is his best song to date, but I think it ranks in his top 10 because of its unique sounding instrumental and his usual hard hitting lyrics.
Hip Hop/RnB Music Reviews 