Everybody Dies by J. Cole Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Mortality in Our Musical Heroes
Lyrics
Back in Muhammad crib, nigga, top floor
The back room with just the one little small window, nigga
The light be comin’ through it in the morning
Old-ass walls and shit
But it’s just like I remember, just like I wanted it
Yeah, I’m workin’
Yeah, I’m workin’, nigga
Look, it’s the return of the Mr. Burn Suckers
Not herpes infested, just perfectly blessed with
A style that you can’t F with, protection recommended
‘Cause Cole the definition of a weapon that can end it
You know, mass destruction when I mash the button
I take your favorite major rapper, left him independent
Cryin’ in the corner
‘Cause I ain’t into sorta kinda, dissin’ niggas
I’m borderline addicted to slaughter
Line up niggas in order
Of who you think can really fuck with me most
Then I tuck the heat close, if he don’t duck then he ghost
Ain’t no need for discussion
If they weren’t talking ’bout the bread
These motherfuckers be toast
Clap at the fake deep rappers
The OG gatekeep rappers
The would-you-take-a-break-please rappers
Bunch of words and ain’t sayin’ shit, I hate these rappers
Especially the amateur eight week rappers
Lil’ whatever—just another short bus rapper
Fake drug dealers turn tour bus trappers
Napoleon complex, you this tall rappers
Get exposed standin’ next to 6’4″ rappers
The streets don’t fuck with you, you Pitchfork rappers
Chosen by the white man, you hipster rappers
I reload the clip, then I hit more rappers with that
Straight shittin’ on these piss-poor rappers, I’m back
Never knew a nigga that was better
Revenue, I’m good at gettin’ cheddar
Reminisce on days I didn’t eat
If it’s meant to be, then it’ll be
If it’s not, then fuck it, I’mma try
Ain’t no need to ask the Father why, no
‘Cause one day everybody gotta die
One day everybody gotta die, oh
One day everybody gotta die
One day everybody gotta die, my nigga, my nigga
In a sonic landscape that’s crowded with ever-evolving hip hop beats and lyrical flexing, J. Cole’s ‘Everybody Dies’ slices through the noise with a raw reminder of life’s greatest equalizer. This 2016 cut from Cole’s ‘4 Your Eyez Only’ docufilm catapults listeners into an introspective journey—one that doesn’t just skim the surface of fame and glory but dives deep into the grit of existential contemplation.
But ‘Everybody Dies’ isn’t just a memento mori set to music; it’s a commentary on the rap game, a ledger balancing the authenticity of storytelling with the bravado of commercial success. We slip into the confines of Cole’s old haunts, ruminating alongside him in a room where time stands still, and the truth of his words cuts sharp.
A Return to Roots: The Poignancy of Simplicity
Cole’s opening lines transport us to Muhammad’s crib, a metaphorical homecoming that signifies more than territorial prestige. It’s a sanctuary for thought, a lyrical dojo where J. Cole fortifies himself for the lyrical warfare ahead. Through evocative imagery, Cole establishes not just a physical setting, but a mental scape where preparation meets destiny.
The simplicity of the room, with its ‘old-ass walls’ and single bleary window, is a stark contrast to the complex layers of the industry he’s addressing. It’s this juxtaposition—between the primal urge to create and the commercialized arena of hip hop—that forms the backdrop of Cole’s reflective soliloquy.
Taking Aim: The Crackdown on Commercial Rap Culture
With surgical precision, Cole puts the rap game on blast, gunning down the facades of artistes masquerading as something they’re not. ‘Fake drug dealers turn tour bus trappers’ speaks to the precarious line between storytelling and living a falsehood, between entertainment and reality. It’s a call-out of the authenticity in question within the industry.
The ‘short bus rapper’ and ‘Pitchfork rappers’ aren’t just clever plays on words; they’re indictments on an industry obsessed with image over substance. J. Cole is clearing house, and no one is safe. He challenges his peers to step up or stand down, marking territory in a saturated musical landscape.
J. Cole’s Lyrical Crusade Against Superficiality
The biting indictment of ‘bunch of words and ain’t sayin’ shit’ is a rallying cry for lyrical substance, a call to arms for rappers whose content runs deeper than the grooves of a record. J. Cole’s stance isn’t one of conflict but one of constructive criticism. It’s an invitation to elevate, to speak truths that resonate beyond catchy hooks and bass drops.
This track isn’t a mere track; it’s Cole’s creed, his declaration of purpose to uphold the sanctity of hip hop as an art form. He positions himself as the gatekeeper, sifting through the chaff to find the artistic wheat.
The Hidden Meaning: Contemplating Existence Beyond the Microphone
Beneath the bravado and barbed wires of words, ‘Everybody Dies’ serves as a philosophical exploration of mortality. ‘One day everybody gotta die’ – this hook is an echoing truth, a fate that unites mogul and minion, artist and audience.
In this light, J. Cole’s verses can be seen as not merely a challenge to his contemporaries but a universal call for reflection. The specter of death is indifferent to fame, fortune, and legacy, and this acknowledgment is Cole’s handshake with humanity—one that shows his understanding of life’s ephemeral nature.
Memorable Lines That Etch A Legacy
‘Clap at the fake deep rappers, the OG gatekeep rappers, the would-you-take-a-break-please rappers’ – these lines are wielded with the force of a gavel, echoing in the halls of hip hop long after the song fades. It’s classic J. Cole: poignant, powerful, and unapologetically candid.
Yet amidst the evisceration of the genre’s vain pretenders, there is an undeniable respect for the craft. Cole isn’t just severing ties; he’s strengthening the thread that connects true artists to their work. He’s not just calling for death to the insincerity within rap—he’s breathing life into its future.
