Read on Twitter
J Cole - The Climb Back (BAR BREAKDOWN) a thread.
1. Government sends fraud inspectors to “check out” section 8 housing projects
2. “Projects” also literal music projects
3. By revisiting a situation that is less than desirable, you’d be able to see how J Cole “flipped” his old living situation for a better one.
2. “Projects” also literal music projects
3. By revisiting a situation that is less than desirable, you’d be able to see how J Cole “flipped” his old living situation for a better one.
Much like how people buy and sell houses for a living.
4. But by also revisiting his discography, you can see the journey as to how he did it.
4. But by also revisiting his discography, you can see the journey as to how he did it.
Don’t overlook the use of “niggas” even though black artists tend to use the term interchangeably this time is very specific as BET is of course Black Entertainment yet even us black people don’t hold it to the same regard as white owned award ceremonies like the Grammy’s.
It’s possible that at the same time that he is saying in a clever way that rappers don’t want problems with him, he is also calling them fake as these rappers probably pretend that they care about the BET awards but they don’t.
This one isn’t too hard to catch but it’s still quite clever/funny. Protocol is pronounced “pro-to-call”, may be a double entendre referencing the “tap in” nature of many hoods where you gotta make sure you’re good with the OG’s.
Link between “underground” and “mines”. Cole addresses the drug culture in rap. On the surface level he just says he doesn’t want to die. But this also links to earlier in the song where he said he makes diamonds (out of pressure). So he goes for literal “mines” but doesn’t look
to sleep/stay in them (like gophers), but to escape by finding diamonds to afford a better life. This is a wider commentary on life in lower income environments itself, the ones who escape are in effect dodging death.
“Back in the kennel” is an analogy for being sent to the doghouse (i.e. kicked out). Cole, as he confirms later, has essentially relegated his friend (“dog”) to an outsider because of his envious tendencies.
“trap” “demon” “fiend” all drug related metaphors. “to clap” is to kill, by saying it’s as often as he’s misquoted Cole is either saying: 1. People (Genius) misquote him you humiliate him or 2. People are so excited to applaud him (clap) that they give meanings that aren’t there.
forgot to mention it in the thread but yeah of course i “flipped” is also an exclamation point. https://twitter.com/wowthatshiphop/status/1286118650148265987?s=21 https://twitter.com/wowthatshiphop/status/1286118650148265987