In a genre where great rappers have very distinct flow, rhyme and voice, J. Cole is the everyman. Have you ever heard someone do an imitation of J. Cole? No, because you can't, and if you did, you probably would be sounding like yourself. J. Cole is an earnest rapper. Yup, an earnest rapper. He really felt like he let Nas down, and we believe him because it's true, he felt his music was not living up to his idol's standards. And so comes his newest album, afforded the freedom by his label that many rappers don't get that chance too *cough* Lupe Fiasco *cough*. There are no singles, and the album, rather than find that new sound, is very classic sounding. It has a timelessness to it that most rappers have no patience for, and yet we the listener are rewarded by it. Plus the story telling is top notch. Is it masterful? Hardly, but it is very good and more importantly, very genuine. In a dark land of fake emcees, J. Cole holds a candle.