“03’ Adolescence” is the fourth track on J Cole’s third studio album, Forest Hills Drive. The album itself was named after a street that the rapper lived on in Fayetteville, North Carolina when he was a teenager, and ironically, contains the name of a neighborhood in Queens near St. John’s University, where J Cole attended college. The album tells the story of Cole’s departure from North Carolina to go to school in New York City, and this particular song portrays some of the struggles and insecurities he faced while making the transition. These events took place in 2003, when Cole was just 18, hence the name “03’ Adolescence.” Throughout the song, J Cole tells his personal story through a relaxed rhythm and vivid lyrics that convey his struggles.
There is one particular line from the hook that captures the meaning of the song:
“Things change, rearrange and so do I
It ain’t always for the better, dawg, I can’t lie”
Here, Cole is saying that change is inevitable, and that change doesn’t always improve a person’s situation, contrary to public perception. It may seem that his move to New York will result in great success, but living in the moment, all Cole could focus on was leaving his family and home in North Carolina. Because of this switch, he was forced to adjust, to “rearrange.”
Another interesting lyric also addresses the meaning of the song as it relates to New York City:
“I might bend a little bit but I don’t fold”
This lyric speaks for itself; although J Cole goes through the tough times he describes in the song, he never gives up. Part of his motivation to attend St. John’s was his desire to pursue music as a career, and he believed that making the move to the city would benefit him on the pursuit of his dream. This mentality is representative of New York City as a whole. Every New Yorker experiences problems on a daily basis, but by no means does a true New Yorker quit or back down from challenges.
Personally, this song has helped me refocus during stressful times in high school, and during my first semester of college. Listening to it reminds me that I am not the only one going through problems in life, that there are 8 million others around me with the same struggles. Thus, the song gives me the strength and clarity of mind to continue working on the road to success.
David does a good job on touching J Cole’s historical context for the album and the song. Another interesting aspect of this song was that J Cole came from a poor neighborhood. The fact that he is going to attend St. John’s University in New York for free on a basketball scholarship and move away from his bad neighborhood represents the theme of social justice. J Cole serves as a guide for people who struggle in their lives. J Cole provides ambition to people through songs such as “03′ Adolescence” that if he can make it out of poverty, then those that work hard for their goals can also attain the dreams that they yearn so badly. J Cole frequently mentions in the song how he is blessed to make it out of North Carolina ultimately, while his drug-dealing friend struggles even to make a living.
I agree with David’s interpretation of J Cole’s “03′ Adolescence.” David elaborates on Cole’s message of change being inevitable by providing insight into J Cole’s history. In 2003, Cole moved from North Carolina to New York City to attend St. John’s University. Cole is faced with change yet again when he embraces hip-hop stardom after Jay-Z signs him. Another one of our course themes that “03′ Adolescence” relates well to is meaningfulness. The song’s lyrics show a younger Cole’s perception on what is meaningful in life when Cole admits to idolizing his drug dealer friend. On the other hand, J Cole’s friend is secretly admiring Cole for being everything that he wants to be. Although the two initially had different views on what things give life a sense of purpose, after J Cole gets a glimpse of the life he thinks he wants from his friend, he says “I felt ashamed to have ever complained…”
I like David’s choice of song was very much because the song relates to us on a personal level. As freshman, we all are coming from different backgrounds and regions to New York City to gain something. The city provides us with the opportunity to not only get an education but learn about ourselves and get to know people of all color, income levels, ages, and races. I think J Cole’s song does a nice job of portraying the change of what many of us went through this semester, it being our first one. His lyrics also do a great job of showing how New York City itself doesn’t let anyone down as his move to this whole new world eventually did turn his dream into a reality.