So, the song 1985 is the last song off the critically acclaimed album: KOD (Kids On Drugs). The theme of the album revolves around drug addiction, Cole’s childhood experiences, and more. This was a much-anticipated album, and when it finally dropped in 2017; it enjoyed much success (rightfully deserved).
1985
In this song (which is my favorite from the album along with Kevin’s heart) was kind of a response to the so called “new generation” rappers (the Gucci Gang people lol) who time and again call out Cole for being “too old” for rap.
So, the premise of the song is that, the music that some of these new and upcoming artists (many of whom are still teenagers lol) make revolves around promoting drug abuse, gun violence and other dangerous behaviors. And these new rappers often clown, the well-established figures in hip-hop like J Cole as being irrelevant and “not cool enough”, while the so called “old /conscious rappers” condemn the new generation of rappers for promoting toxic behaviors and going “against what hip-hop stands for”.
J Cole was being clowned by these new rappers (people like Lil Pump, Smokepurp and others) at the time of making this song. Hence, in this song, he “schools” them about the realities of the rap game and gives them “advice”, all the while telling them how stupid they are lol.
It’s his reply to the all those new rappers.
I don’t care about either sides of the arguement, but hey, the song is fire ; )
This song is an example of pure artistic talent.
Lyrics Dissect
1985, I arrived
33 years, damn, I’m grateful I survived
We wasn’t s’posed to get past 25
Jokes on you motherfucker, we alive
Here, Cole might be telling two things at once. One literally and the other in the metaphoric sense. He is saying that he (as a black man) was not expected to live to be 33 years old because of all the gun violence and harsh circumstances he grew up in. On a metaphorical note, he might also be referencing to his rap career, as to how he is still relevant after all these years (still surviving).
All these niggas popping now is young
Everybody say the music that they make is dumb
I remember I was 18
Money, pussy, parties, I was on the same thing
You gotta give a boy a chance to grow some
Everybody talkin’ like they know somethin’ these days
Niggas actin’ woke, but they broke, umm
I respect the struggle but you all frontin’ these days
Man, they barely old enough to drive
To tell them what they should do, who the fuck am I?
I heard one of em’ diss me, I’m suprised
I ain’t trippin’, listen good to my reply
So, here Cole is saying that he understands why the young rappers do what they do; he used to do the same when he was young. That he is not trying to demonize them, instead he wants to have an actual conversation with them. To which he adds that everyone these days is trying to preach; they all give their opinions on the internet but their own life sucks (“Niggas actin’ woke, but they broke umm”). That they are not actually doing anything in real life; just talking. And he actually respects that young rappers are successful these days (at least they are making something). But still he points that there is something very wrong with how they make music.
Now comes the advice part, it awesome lol.
Come here lil’ man, let me talk with ya’
See if I can paint for you the larger picture
Congrats ’cause you made it out your mama’s house
I hope you make enough to buy your mom a house
I see your watch icy and your whip foreign
I got some good advice, never quit tourin’
‘Cause that’s the way we eat here in this rap game
I’m fuckin’ with your funky lil’ rap name
Here he reminds young rappers what’s actually important in life. It’s not the fancy cars (“whip foreign”) they buy or jewelry (“Ice”), but more tangible things, like buying your mother a house. He makes them question themselves about their financial decisions, especially cause they are rich, young and stupid lol.
I hear your music and I know that rap’s changed
A bunch of folks would say that that’s a bad thing
‘Cause everything’s commercial and it’s pop now
Trap drums is the shit that’s hot now
See, I’ve been on a quest for the next wave
But never mind, that was just a segue
I must say, by your songs I’m unimpressed, hey
But I love to see a Black man get paid
And plus, you havin’ fun and I respect that
But have you ever thought about your impact?
These white kids love that you don’t give a fuck
‘Cause that’s exactly what’s expected when your skin black
They wanna see you dab, they wanna see you pop a pill
They wanna see you tatted from your face to your heels
And somewhere deep down, fuck it, I gotta keep it real
They wanna be black and think your song is how it feels
Here Cole focuses on today’s musical scene. He says that, being an established rapper himself, he accepts that it’s time for the new generation to replace the old (that’s how everything works), “Been on a quest for the next wave”. But he mentions that he is disappointed by the quality of music the new generation is putting out.
“These white Kids love that you don’t a fuck”, that young rappers are leaning into, and promoting the harmful stereotypes about Black People in America. Promoting violence, robbery, gang culture and drugs. And white people actually do make up a huge demographic of hip-hop consumer base (most the crowd in a black artist’s concerts is white, simply because the ticket prices are so expensive for black people in the community). He is referencing that, by being such an artist, his is harming his own (black) people and “working for the white man”.
So when you turn up, you see them turnin’ up too
You hit the next city, collect your money when it’s due
You gettin’ that paper, swimmin’ in bitches, I don’t blame you
You ain’t thinkin’ ’bout the people that’s lookin’ like me and you
True, you got better shit to do
Again, he is referencing that they (young rappers) are not thinking about the impact of their music on their communities (young kids doing drugs, going to jail). Instead they only chase money, which is, according to him, not the right way.
You coulda bought a crib with all that bread that you done blew
I know you think this type of revenue is never endin’
But I wanna take a minute just to tell you that ain’t true
One day, them kids that’s listening gon’ grow up
And get too old for that shit that made you blow up
Now your show’s lookin’ light cause they don’t show up
Which unfortunately means the money slow up
Now you scramblin’ and hopin’ to get hot again
But you forgot you only popped ’cause you was ridin’ trends
Now you old news and you goin’ through regrets
‘Cause you never bought that house, but you got a Benz
And a bunch of jewels and a bunch of shoes
And a bunch of fake friends, I ain’t judgin’ you
I’m just tellin’ you what’s probably gon’ happen when you rappin’
‘Bout the type of shit you rappin’ ’bout
It’s a faster route to the bottom
I wish you good luck
I’m hoping for your sake that you ain’t dumb as you look
But if it’s really true what people sayin’
And you call yourself playin’ with my name
Then I really know you fucked, trust
Here too, he reminds young rappers about how dumb they are with their life decisions. That they could do a lot of things with they money that like buying an actual house (“crib”) or investing in long term assets like land, but instead they blow all their money on stupid things like cars (“Benz”), sneakers, trying to impress fake friends and all. To which he adds, their rap careers won’t last long because they are only popular because they are “riding trends”; that they make music about things that are relevant at the moment but have no artistic thought of their own. Hence, he is sincerely advising them to focus on changing their ways and actually working on their music instead calling people out and creating drama just to get famous.
I’ll be around forever ’cause my skills is tip-top
To any amateur niggas that wanna get rocked
Just remember what I told you when your shit flop
In five years you gon’ be on Love & Hip-Hop, nigga
And he finishes off with why is he different than them and that they should not mess with his name. He is an actual artist who has a long running careers instead of an amateur rapper who got famous off a single hit. Hence, he reminds them (all those young rappers who diss him) that him and them, are not in the same league ; )
Conclusion:
This is one of the chilliest, most badass song I’ve ever heard. This is quality hip-hop!
And trust me, I’ve heard a lot ; )
Cheers!
= )
Honestblogs 