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By the looks of it, J. Cole is embracing the fact that his album ’2014 Forest Hills Drive’ leaked earlier this week. The rapper hasn’t addressed the matter, and instead, he releases visuals for the opening track, ‘Intro.’
As simple as the song itself, the video finds the North Carolina native on a bicycle, pedaling through the empty streets of Manhattan.
Cole, sporting a green-and-black lumberjack jacket, black pants and green-and-black throwback Jordans, doesn’t appear to have a particular destination. He stops at a showroom window of a BMW dealership, which gives some insight on what the song is all about — to dream big and dream often.
“I said do you wanna, do you wanna be happy / I said do you wanna be free… Free from pain, free from scars / Free to sing, free from bars, free my dogs, you’re free to go / Block gets hot, the streets is cold / Free to live, to each his own, free from bills, free from pills,” he sings over light piano keys and lush strings.
From the dealership, the Jay Z-mentored artist continues to travel, as he gazes up at the bright lights and tall buildings, which could also be a metaphor for thinking and dreaming big.
The video is simple but poignant, and gives a brief look into ’2014 Forest Hills Drive.’ Clearly, it seems that he’s delving deeper these days and making music with a message. ’2014 Forest Hills Drive’ arrives Dec. 9.
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