How Love Yourz by J.

Cole
is more than a song
by Andreas Juan

Jermaine Lamarr Cole or J.Cole is well known for the infamous hiphop related meme “ Double platinum
with no features” after releasing his 3rd Album “2014 Forest Hills Drive”. Cole won the 2015 Billboard
Music Award for the Top Rap Album as well as the 2015 BET Hip Hop Award for the Best Album of
the Year. Although failing to win, this project was nominated for Best Rap/Hip Hop Album in 2015 at
the American Music Awards, as well as Best Rap Album at the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016.
Among the song on this album, there was one that really stood out and touched me personally. “Love
yourz” which is a song that he used to show people that no matter how hard & long your journey is,
you should always appreciate it and never take it for granted. Cole talk about to gain happiness he was
searching for, he needed to appreciate himself more and those who love him.
The hook “No such thing as a life that’s better than yours” is the most significant line in this song. Cole
trying to show us that you still can be happy even if you don’t have a rolex on your hand and driving
sportcars. Cole was one of few people who experienced the from rags to riches story. Having nothing
from the start and finally got everything he wanted. But soon he realised that none of that fancy things
make him happy. In interview with genius he said “As I really started to take a closer look at all that
shit we want, and all the shit we need that makes us happy, I started to see for my, with my own eyes.
Like wait a minute. That shit don’t feel right, that shit feel weird. And I started to notice that, all of that
shit that they tried to tell us is all bullshit and it’s all wrong and it’s not what we need to make us happy.
I had to go figure that shit out on my own”.
In his 2nd Verse he addressed all his listeners who still struggling through life by saying
Think being broke was better
Now I don’t mean that phrase with no disrespect
To all my n*ggas out there living in debt
Cashing minimal checks
Turn on the TV see a n*gga Rolex
And fantasize about a life with no stress
I mean this sh*t sincerely
And that’s a n*gga who was once in your shoes
Living with nothin’ to lose
I hope one day you hear me
He’s speaking words of motivation to those who perhaps are going through the same things he did.
Moreover, Cole highlights the fact that those who haven’t reached success typically dig their own grave
in life by merely fantasizing about having everything. He knows about the struggles in life people can
face on the journey. He endured them all on his way to get where he is today and knows just how much
of an impact that made on him to craft him into the person he is today. He hopes that everything he
expresses in his music is heard by those who need it.