J. Cole is revisiting a cherished chapter in his music journey by rereleasing his third album, ‘2014 Forest Hills Drive,’ with never-before-heard tracks, marking its 10th anniversary in a grand style.
The announcement dropped on November 29, exciting fans eager to dive back into J. Cole’s world with the inclusion of rare gems from the original recording sessions. Vinyl and CDs of this legendary album will feature previously unreleased songs, providing a fresh experience for collectors and new listeners alike.
Cole’s upcoming release distinguishes itself with two unique editions. The ’10 Year Anniversary Edition’ showcases the album’s original cover in a blue hue and offers four new songs: ‘Home Soon,’ ‘Die Together,’ ‘Judgement Day,’ and ‘Winter Wonderland.’ Meanwhile, the ‘Alternate Cover’ edition presents fresh artwork and a different set of new tracks, including ‘Keep Heaven Dancing,’ ‘Miles,’ ‘Black Man In Hollywood,’ and ‘Obviously.’ Each edition serves as a tribute to the album that resonated with so many.
Die-hard fans will have to be quick; only 2,014 copies of the ‘Alternate Cover’ vinyl are available. This exclusive offering hits the shelves on December 6, just ahead of the album’s 10th birthday on December 9.
Besides this thrilling reissue, J. Cole has also unveiled several of his celebrated mixtapes—’The Come Up,’ ‘The Warm Up,’ and ‘Friday Night Lights’—on streaming platforms for the first time. Of particular significance is ‘Friday Night Lights,’ a project close to Cole’s heart. Sharing his gratitude on social media, Cole remarked, “This is a very special moment for me. Been waiting patiently for this day, like a lot of yall have.”
Expressing his appreciation, J. Cole credited fans for keeping his work alive despite the mixtapes’ absence from streaming services, especially ‘Friday Night Lights.’ He acknowledged the importance of these releases, stating, “To have a full idea of what this means for me personally, you would have to know the whole journey. This Inevitable series we doing, is that.”
The reissues harmonize with the rollout of Cole’s new audio series, ‘Inevitable,’ where he reflects on his storied career. Alongside his longtime manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad, and collaborator Scott Lazer, Cole shares behind-the-scenes stories, creating a nostalgic journey through his musical evolution. Notably, the series includes highlights like collaborations with Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell, and even insights into his past lyrical spar with Kanye West.
J. Cole’s decade-long celebration of ‘2014 Forest Hills Drive’ not only pays homage to a pivotal album but also offers fans old and new a chance to explore unreleased music and stories from his career.
