The Best J. Cole Songs Of All Time

Jared Baly
Updated April 15, 2024 29 items
Ranked By
1.0K votes
152 voters

What is J. Cole's biggest hit? Here are the best J. Cole songs of all time, ranked by fans everywhere. The Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist from North Carolina is considered one of the greatest rappers of the 21st century. J. Cole has worked with every major industry mogul, producing singles for Kendrick Lamar and Janet Jackson while also collaborating with Jay-Z, Drake, Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, Lil Baby, and Trey Songz (to name a few). The modern Moe Dee remains a driving force of the rap business with countless accolades and songwriting credits under his belt; and throughout the course of his illustrious career, J. Cole has released six number one US Billboard 200 studio albums: Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011), Born Sinner (2013), 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014), 4 Your Eyez Only (2016), KOD (2018), and The Off-Season (2021). 

From his new and latest music to his older popular songs, this J. Cole playlist features all of his greatest hits, according to the fans. Do your favorite J. Cole songs crack the top 10? Vote up the best songs by J. Cole, and don't forget to show his underrated tracks love as well.

Most divisive: Can't Get Enough (ft. Trey Songz)
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best J. Cole Songs Of All Time
  • 4 Your Eyez Only
    1

    4 Your Eyez Only

    108 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    Girl your daddy was a real n****, not 'cos he was cold
    Not because he was the first to get some p*ssy twelve years old
    Not because he used to come through in the Caddy on some vogues
    Not because he went from bagging up them grams to serving O's
    Nah your daddy was a real n****, not 'cos he was hard
    Not because he lived a life of crime and sat behind some bars
    Not because he screamed f*ck the law, although that was true
    Your daddy was a real n**** 'cuz he loved you"
    For your eyes only

  • Love Yourz
    2

    Love Yourz

    86 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    It's beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success
    Hear my words or listen to my signal of distress
    I grew up in the city and know sometimes we had less
    Compared to some of my n***** down the block, man, we were blessed
    And life can't be no fairytale, no once upon a time
    But I be goddamned if a n**** don't be tryin'
    So tell me, mama please, why you be drinking all the time?
    Does all the pain he brought you still linger in your mind?

  • No Role Modelz
    3

    No Role Modelz

    103 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    Don't save her, she don't wanna be saved
    Don't save her, she don't wanna be saved
    Fool me one time shame on you
    Fool me twice, can't put the blame on you
    Fool me three times, f*ck the peace signs
    Load the chopper, let it rain on you
     

  • Middle Child
    4

    Middle Child

    74 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    N***** been countin' me out
    I'm countin' my bullets, I'm loadin' my clips
    I'm writin' down names, I'm makin' a list
    I'm checkin' it twice and I'm gettin' 'em hit
    The real ones been dyin', the fake ones is lit
    The game is off balance, I'm back on my sh*t
    The Bentley is dirty, my sneakers is dirty
    But that's how I like it, you all on my d*ck

  • A Tale Of 2 Citiez
    5

    A Tale Of 2 Citiez

    49 votes

    Last night I had a bad dream
    That I was trapped in this city
    Then I asked is that really such a bad thing?
    They robbin' n***** on the daily
    Keep on blamin' n**** that ain't never had things
    Guess not, last night they pulled up on my n**** at the light like
    Uh, nice watch, run it
    Hands in the air now, hands in the air, run it

  • m y . l i f e (ft. 21 Savage & Morray)
    6

    m y . l i f e (ft. 21 Savage & Morray)

    48 votes

    N****, I'm just a product of poverty, full of narcotics to profit off quickly
    My family tree got a history of users that struggle with demons
    Not really the hustler instincts
    Therefore, often, my pockets was empty
    So while some of my partners was servin' up rocks on the corners, the project assemblies
    Me, I was startin' to envy, wanna be on the top where it's plenty
    Wanna be in the spot like where every b*tch want me like Rihanna droppin' new Fenty
    What I see in the sky, the 'Ville is the ceilin', can't reach up too high, evidently
    Nah, sh*t, I can't reach up too high, evidently

  • p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l (ft. Lil Baby)
    7

    p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l (ft. Lil Baby)

    51 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    Pride is the Devil
    I think it got a hold on me
    Pride is the Devil, uh, yeah

    Terrified, paranoid
    I'll put you over everything to fill the void
    And when you're gone, will I have anything?
    Or will I be destroyed?

  • Wet Dreamz
    8

    Wet Dreamz

    69 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    I wrote back and said "of course I had sex before"
    Knowing I was frontin'
    I said I was like a pro baby
    Knowing I was stuntin'
    But if I told the truth I knew I'd get played out son
    Hadn't been in p*ssy since the day I came out one
    But, she don't know that
    So she done roll back and told me
    "Oh you a pro homie? Well I want you to show me
    My mama gone for the weekend
    So Saturday baby we can get to freakin'"

  • Lights Please
    9

    Lights Please

    62 votes

    I'm findin' the more I grow the more y'all seem to stay the same
    Don't even know the rules but yet y'all tryin' to play the game
    And ain't it shameful how n***** blame h*es for givin' birth
    To a baby that took two to make?
    Coward n****, you a fake
    How gon' look in your son's face and turn your back
    Then go start another family dog, what type of sh*t is that?

  • Power Trip (ft. Miguel)
    10

    Power Trip (ft. Miguel)

    65 votes

    Well, this has got to be the longest crush ever
    If I ever get to f*ck, it'd be the longest b*st ever
    Love is a drug, like the strongest stuff ever and
    F*ck it, I'm on one, you feel me?
    She on a power trip, she got me where she want a n****
    Wife'ing in the club, man, my homies gon' disown a n****
    Like, give me 20 dollars, dollars
    Ass stupid, how you get to college, college?

  • Apparently
    11

    Apparently

    73 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    And how could I be so selfish, I know I can be so selfish
    I could tell by how I treat you with my girl
    Damn she so selfless, but she put up with my way
    Because she loves me like you do
    And though it do not always show
    I love her just like I love you

    And I need to treat you better
    Wish you could live forever
    So we could spend more time together
    I love you mama

  • t h e . c l i m b . b a c k
    12

    t h e . c l i m b . b a c k

    43 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    Everything come back around full circle
    Why do lies sound pleasant but the truth hurtful (Yeah)
    Everybody gotta cry once in a while
    But how long will it take 'fore you smile?
    This is that come back to life sh*t
    My n**** pick me up and we gon' light the city up
    As if the sun had the night shift
    And paint the town red for my n**** found dead too soon
    Now I know why they call it blue moon (Yeah)

  • Fire Squad
    13

    Fire Squad

    49 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    Ain't a way around it no more, I am the greatest
    A lotta n***** sat on the thrown, I am the latest
    I am the bravest, go toe to toe with the giants
    I ain't afraid of you n*****, I'll end up fading you n*****
    'Fore it's all said and done, this n**** need medicine
    My uzi it weighed a ton, I need me a better gun
    In fact I just might need two, cuz n***** say they the one
    And I got something to prove
    Forgive me lord here they come, BLAOW

  • G.O.M.D
    14

    G.O.M.D

    45 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    I said to the window, to the wall
    My n**** ride when I call
    Got b*tches all in my mind
    F*ck n**** blocking my shine
    I know the reason you feel the way
    I know just who you wan' be
    So everyday I thank the man upstairs
    That I ain't you and you ain't me

  • She Knows (ft. Amber Coffman & Cults)
    15

    She Knows (ft. Amber Coffman & Cults)

    49 votes

    Now I'm sure you done head about me
    A black star, Mos Def, Kweli
    Good so them bad hoes try me, they try me
    This is Martin Luther King in the club, getting dubs
    With a bad b*tch in his ear, sayin' that she down for whatever
    In the back of his mind is Coretta
    And she knows, she knows
    And I know she knows, and I know she knows

  • Neighbors
    16

    Neighbors

    51 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    Crib has got a big 'ol backyard
    My n***** stand outside and pass cigars
    Filled with marijuana, laughin' hard
    Thankful that they friend's a platinum star
    In the driveway there's no rapper cars
    Just some sh*t to get from back and forth
    Just some sh*t to get from back and forth
    Welcome to the shelter, this is pure
    We'll help you if you've felt too insecure
    To be the star you always knew you were
    Wait, I think police is at the door

    Okay, the neighbors think I'm sellin' dope

  • Immortal
    17

    Immortal

    34 votes

    Have you ever seen a fiend cook cr*ck on the spoon?
    Have you ever seen a n**** that was black on the moon?
    Have you ever seen your brother go to prison as you cried?
    Have you ever seen a motherf*ckin' ribbon in the sky?
    Nope, all I see is that C.R.E.A.M n****, that green
    I'm a black king, black jeans on my black queen
    And her ass fat, too fat for a flat screen
    I'm the type of n**** make the whole f*ckin' trap lean
    Kingpin, n**** put wings on a crack fiend
    If they want a n****, they gon' have to send a SWAT team
    And I'm goin' out like Scarface in his last scene
    A legend, what that mean?

    Real n**** don't die

  • Crooked Smile (ft. TLC)
    18

    Crooked Smile (ft. TLC)

    42 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    You wake up, put makeup on
    Stare in the mirror
    But it's clear that you can't face what's wrong
    No need to fix what God already put his paintbrush on
    Your roommate yelling, why you gotta take so long?
    What it's like to have a crooked smile

    On my way, on my way, on my way down
    On my way, on my way, on my way down (This crooked smile)
    You were the one that was tryna keep me way down
    But like the sun, know you know I found my way back 'round

  • Lost Ones
    19

    Lost Ones

    30 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    And I ain't too proud to tell ya that I cry sometimes
    I cry sometimes about it
    And girl I know it hurt but if this world was perfect
    Then we could make it work but I doubt it
    And I aint too proud to tell ya that I cry sometimes
    I cry sometimes about it

  • i n t e r l u d e
    20

    i n t e r l u d e

    31 votes

    Block hot, n***** burnin' up the street
    Shots poppin' and we heard it up the street
    It's a war, n***** runnin' up the score
    Jesus said that you should turn the other cheek

    Was his n***** gettin' murdered every week?
    Dead bodies, smell the odor in the street

  • Can't Get Enough (ft. Trey Songz)
    21

    Can't Get Enough (ft. Trey Songz)

    34 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    Hey, Cole World, baby, ain't nothin' sunny
    I see 'em hatin', but it ain't nuttin' to me
    I'm from the Ville, where they bang for the money

    And carry fo'-fives like change for a twenty
    So what I look like scurred?
    Them n***** over there look like nerds
    Never mind that, girl, let's make a track
    I'll beat the p*ssy up, that's the hook right thurr
    That's the hook, right there
    That's the hook, right there
    Never mind that, girl, let's make a track

    I'll beat the p*ssy up, that's the hook right thurr

  • In the Morning
    22

    In the Morning

    24 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    Don't be ashamed, it ain't no thing, I used to blow trees
    Gettin lifted, I quit but sh*t, I might get high with you
    It's only fitting cause I'm looking super fly with you
    A flower, you are powerful, you do something to me
    'Cause girl I caught the vibe like you threw something to me
    So I threw em back, now all my n***** hollerin, who was that
    Oh boy, she bad n****, what you bout do with that
    I'm finna take you home, just sip a little patron
    Now we zonin', baby you so fine

    And can I hit it in the morning

  • Work Out
    23

    Work Out

    38 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    Take a chance, roll the dice
    Money can't buy you love 'cause it's overpriced
    Don't overthink, just hope it's right
    I'm only here for the night

    Ay, we've got a good thing
    Don't know if I'mma see you again
    But is that a good thing?
    'Cause girl, I can't be your man, no ma'am
    I know what's on your brain
    You probably hope it never would end
    Like, "is it the real thing
    Or is it just a one night stand?"
    Well then

  • KOD
    24

    KOD

    28 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    The number one question is, "How?"
    How does it feel now that you on?
    How much you worth? How big is your home?
    How come you won't get a few features?
    I think you should? How 'bout I don't?
    How 'bout you just get the f*ck off my dick?
    How 'bout you listen and never forget?
    Only gon' say this one time, then I'm dipped
    N****s ain't worthy to be on my shit

  • Kevin's Heart
    25

    Kevin's Heart

    18 votes

    All in your mind with fears that would come true
    The back of my mind, the back of my mind was you
    Wishing that I could blind myself from view
    And only have eyes, and only have eyes for you

  • Three Wishes
    26

    Three Wishes

    16 votes

    I woke up from out my sleep when I heard mama and my stepfather beefin'
    I don't know if he'd been drinkin', but I know that sh*t got loud
    And I heard rumbling from struggling and rolling on the ground
    Could never get used to that sound, my mama saying “Get off me!”
    My tears is tumbling now, I wish that you never saw me, 'cause I
    Felt like a coward, so powerless I was only 12
    I wish I would've bust right through that door my f*cking self

  • ATM
    27

    ATM

    29 votes

    Best Lyrics:

    Pardon the visual
    But money, it give me a h*rd-on it's typical
    I want it in physical
    A million dollars, I count up in intervals
    Without it I'm miserable
    Don't wanna fall off so I'm all in my bag
    Thankin' God like it's biblical
    I know it's gon' solve every problem I have
    I balled on the principal
    Remember the teachers that was all on my ass
    Now look all of them, pitiful
    And all of a sudden I'm so good at math

  • 1985 - Intro to "The Fall Off"
    28

    1985 - Intro to "The Fall Off"

    25 votes

    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 f*cked, trust
    I'll be around forever 'cause my skills is tip-top
    To any amateur n***** that wanna get rocked
    Just remember what I told you when your sh*t flop
    In five years you gon' be on Love & Hip-Hop, n****

  • Motiv8
    29

    Motiv8

    27 votes

    Used to like b*tches with hair permed
    Now I like it "natural, actual, factual"
    Naps and sh*t, bougie, still do ratchet sh*t
    Not afraid to pass the clip
    Before I make the ratchet spit, blaow!