For example, these events forced Cole to express the fear, that many African Americans share, of being gunned down mercilessly by police in his song 4 Your Eyez Only. These unfortunate altercations influenced the album by being the source of some of Cole’s political commentary that can be found within the music. The incidents continuously sparked riots and intense protests, jarring new political conversations across the nation. To begin, in the two years leading up to the release of the album there were numerous fatal interactions between unarmed African Americans and police officers. However, it is also important to note the incidents occurring during the time this work was being created. In terms of the context of the piece, the album follows the narrative of James McMillan Jr., as mentioned before. This narrative serves a microcosm for the life of a black man in today’s society, and speaks to many political issues that occur today. The tale goes on, recounting how McMillan tried to turn his life around upon becoming a father, but reaches a sorrowful end with McMillan being slain in the streets. In between a few personal intermission songs from Cole, the album retells McMillan’s journey starting from the point where he became a drug dealer.
The story of the album follows the narrative of James McMillan Jr, a young black man living in Fayetteville, presumably alongside Cole. The album features a variety of musical styles as it holds slow, melodic, jazz-style beats while also containing a few up-tempo, old style beats that reflect the rap of the early nineties. Only was released on December 9th, 2016, exactly two years after the release of his last album. 4 Your Eyez Only Album Cover official cover art released by J.Cole Instagram, 16 Nov.