Friday Night Lights (mixtape)
Encyclopedia
Friday Night Lights is the third official mixtape from Fayetteville, North Carolina
rapper J. Cole. It was released on 12 November 2010. The mixtape was to originally be called Villematic and contain J. Cole's previous leaks and freestyles, however, J. Cole later stated it would have original material. The mixtape became the second most searched and trending topics on Google
and Twitter
respectively following its release. Some songs on the mixtape were slated to be on his debut album at one point or another.
, Kanye West
, L&X Music, Syience
, Timbaland
& long-time friends Elite and Omen. Custom made copies can be found online.
A video for In the Morning
was shot during a concert in Paris. J. Cole and Drake
performed the song live on many occasions, such as Drake's Lights Dreams and Nightmares Tour. J. Cole said “It was my first time in Paris, and I got a text from Drake. And it was him just telling me he heard 'In The Morning' for the first time. My real fans will know that’s it an older song,” J.Cole tells VIBE. “He said it was incredible, and I’ve always wanted to bring that record back to life because the original version I recorded in my bedroom—in my old crib, in my small room.”Feeling the time was right for two of rap’s most talked about rookies to team up, Cole calmly told Drake that he wanted to revamp the record.
“When he hit me, I was already thinking that over the past few months," Cole continued. "I told him that I appreciated it, and he was really making me want to bring it back to life. He said, 'If you do it, make sure you save me 16 on the song.'”
gave the mixtape a rare classic rating of 10/10 saying, "Friday Night Lights is a mixtape with very few blemishes and faults. Cole nicely nits together a very interesting precursor to his upcoming album “Cole World” and it holds its own as one of the most complete mixtapes of the year. Is he “The One”? Well we do not know that yet – but Friday Night Lights definitely has us paying attention." In the same vein, Lost In The Sound gave the mixtape 88/100 saying, "Friday Night Lights is a great effort from Cole all around, showcasing both his lyrical and production talents, but still addressing all of the emotional issues that have become the ‘bread-and-butter’ of Cole’s musical repertoire."
Sample credits
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
rapper J. Cole. It was released on 12 November 2010. The mixtape was to originally be called Villematic and contain J. Cole's previous leaks and freestyles, however, J. Cole later stated it would have original material. The mixtape became the second most searched and trending topics on Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
respectively following its release. Some songs on the mixtape were slated to be on his debut album at one point or another.
Production
Producers who contributed to the tape are J. Cole himself, BinkBink (producer)
Bink is a Grammy nominated hip hop producer who is noted for his work with Roc-A-Fella Records artists. His most high-profile work has been Jay-Z's critically acclaimed album The Blueprint, for which he produced three tracks, including the first and last tracks on the album...
, Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, L&X Music, Syience
Syience
Reggie Syience Perry is a Grammy Award-winning American songwriter, record producer and musician. He has worked with a number of recognizable and respected artists, including Beyoncé, Cheryl Cole, Jay-Z, John Legend, Mary J Blige, Ne-Yo, and Nelly. Syience won two Grammys for his work on Mary J...
, Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
& long-time friends Elite and Omen. Custom made copies can be found online.
Track information
The bonus track on the mixtape, "Looking for Trouble" was released for free on 7 November 2010 by Kanye West as part of his series G.O.O.D. Fridays where he released a song every Friday for multiple months until Christmas of 2010.A video for In the Morning
In the Morning
-Songs:*"In the Morning", song by Irving Berlin, performed by Al Jolson in American film musical, Mammy *"In the Morning", song from In the Morning, album by Irish folk band, Tír na nÓg*"In the Morning", song from In the Morning, album by English/Australian singing group, the Bee...
was shot during a concert in Paris. J. Cole and Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
performed the song live on many occasions, such as Drake's Lights Dreams and Nightmares Tour. J. Cole said “It was my first time in Paris, and I got a text from Drake. And it was him just telling me he heard 'In The Morning' for the first time. My real fans will know that’s it an older song,” J.Cole tells VIBE. “He said it was incredible, and I’ve always wanted to bring that record back to life because the original version I recorded in my bedroom—in my old crib, in my small room.”Feeling the time was right for two of rap’s most talked about rookies to team up, Cole calmly told Drake that he wanted to revamp the record.
“When he hit me, I was already thinking that over the past few months," Cole continued. "I told him that I appreciated it, and he was really making me want to bring it back to life. He said, 'If you do it, make sure you save me 16 on the song.'”
Critics reaction
AllHipHopAllHipHop
AllHipHop.com is a hip hop news website. It was founded in 1998. At five million visitors a month, it is the world's most popular hip hop website. Essence magazine has dubbed it "the CNN of hip-hop". In 2006, AllHipHop won the Rising Stars Award from Black Enterprise magazine. In 2007, PC Magazine...
gave the mixtape a rare classic rating of 10/10 saying, "Friday Night Lights is a mixtape with very few blemishes and faults. Cole nicely nits together a very interesting precursor to his upcoming album “Cole World” and it holds its own as one of the most complete mixtapes of the year. Is he “The One”? Well we do not know that yet – but Friday Night Lights definitely has us paying attention." In the same vein, Lost In The Sound gave the mixtape 88/100 saying, "Friday Night Lights is a great effort from Cole all around, showcasing both his lyrical and production talents, but still addressing all of the emotional issues that have become the ‘bread-and-butter’ of Cole’s musical repertoire."
Track listing
Sample credits
- "Too Deep for the Intro" samples "Didn't Cha Know" by Erykah BaduErykah BaduErica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
. - "Back to the Topic" samples "Must be Love" by CassieCassieCasandra Ventura , known professionally as Cassie, is a American recording artist, model, dancer and actress. After being introduced to music producer Ryan Leslie, she was signed to his music-media company, NextSelection Lifestyle Group. Leslie wrote and produced Cassie's first single, "Me & U",...
. - "You Got It" samples "Neon Valley Street" by Janelle MonáeJanelle MonáeJanelle Monáe is an American R&B/soul musician signed to Bad Boy Records and Atlantic Records.Monáe debuted with a conceptual EP, Metropolis: Suite I ...
, and an interpolation of "HypnotizeHypnotize (The Notorious B.I.G. song)"Hypnotize" is the Grammy-nominated hip-hop song recorded by rapper The Notorious B.I.G. It was released as the first single from his album Life After Death in December 13, 1996. It was the fifth song to hit #1 posthumously for a credited artist....
" by Notorious B.I.G.. - "Villematic" samples "Devil in a New Dress" by Kanye WestKanye WestKanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
featuring Rick RossRick Ross (rapper)William Leonard Roberts II , better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. He derived his stage name from the drug trafficker "Freeway" Ricky Ross, to whom he has no connection...
. - "Enchanted" interpolates "Hail MaryHail Mary (2Pac song)"Hail Mary" is Makaveli 's last single from his final album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory featuring Kastro, Young Noble and Yaki Kadafi of The Outlawz & Prince Ital Joe. A music video was shot for the song....
" by 2Pac. - "Blow Up" samples "Hocus Pocus" by FocusFocus (band)Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
- "In the Morning" interpolates "Can I Get A" by Jay-ZJay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
- "The Autograph" samples "Julie" by The Class-Set.
- "Best Friend" samples "Best Friends" by Missy ElliottMissy ElliottMelissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
featuring AaliyahAaliyahAaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
. - "Cost Me a Lot" samples "My Man" by Billie HolidayBillie HolidayBillie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, and an interpolation of "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)"Don't Take It Personal " is a song by American R&B singer Monica. It was written by producer Dallas Austin, Willie James Baker, Daryl Simmons, Marlon Williams and rappers LL Cool J and Chuck D for her debut studio album, Miss Thang , incorporating samples of both LL Cool J's 1993 record "Back Seat...
" by Monica. - "Home for the Holidays" interpolates "WankstaWanksta"Wanksta" is the second single from the 8 Mile soundtrack. Released in 2002, the single, performed by 50 Cent, reached No. 13. It was first used on the mixtape No Mercy, No Fear.-Background:...
" by 50 Cent50 CentCurtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by... - "Love Me Not" samples "My Cherie Amour" by Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
. - "See World" samples "Living Inside Your Love" by Earl KlughEarl KlughEarl Klugh is an American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
, and "Pain" by 2Pac. - "Farewell" samples "So Fresh, So Clean" by OutKastOutKastOutkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
. - "Looking for Trouble" samples "Blue Dance Raid" by Steel PulseSteel PulseSteel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen .-History:...
, and "Bubble Music" by Cam'RonCam'ronCameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....
.