Studio Album · No. 2
Born Sinner Songwriting Credits by J. Cole
Produced by J. Cole, Elite, Jake One, Syience, Christian Rich · Engineered by Juro "Mez" Davis, Chris Athens, Brent Kolatalo, Marcos Tovar
Holds writing credit on 20 of 21 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 20 / 21 documented
Scored across the 21 tracks with documented writers, by whether J. Cole carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 21 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Awards & Recognition 2
Born Sinner keeps J. Cole's self-contained model: he wrote his own verses and produced the majority of the album, with outside beats from Jake One, Syience, and Christian Rich. The features are substantial, including Miguel, TLC, Kendrick Lamar, Jhene Aiko, and 50 Cent, but the core authorship is Cole's. Releasing it the same day as Kanye West's Yeezus became part of the album's narrative.
Born Sinner is the second studio album by J. Cole, released on June 18, 2013 through ByStorm Entertainment, Dreamville Records, Roc Nation, and Columbia Records. Spanning hip hop and R&B, it was produced mostly by Cole with contributions from Jake One, Syience, and Elite, and features Miguel, TLC, Kendrick Lamar, Jhené Aiko, and 50 Cent. Its best-known tracks include "Power Trip" with Miguel, "Crooked Smile" with TLC, and "Forbidden Fruit" with Kendrick Lamar. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number two before climbing to number one in its third week. It was certified double platinum by the RIAA and cemented Cole's standing as a leading voice in 2010s hip hop.
Track Listing & Credits 21 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Villuminati
|
J. Cole | Jermaine Lamarr ColeChristopher George Latore WallaceSean John CombsJean-Claude OlivierJames MtumeRobert Sylvester KellySylvester StewartTodd Thomas | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 2 |
Kerney Sermon (Skit)
|
Kerney Sermon | Kerney Sermon | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 3 |
Land of the Snakes
|
J. Cole | Jermaine Lamarr ColeAndré Lauren BenjaminAntwan André PattonDavid SheatsRonald Gilmore | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 4 |
Power Trip
#19
|
J. Cole | Jermaine Lamarr ColeHubert Laws | J. Cole | Miguel |
| 5 |
Mo Money (Interlude)
|
J. ColeJacob Dutton | Jermaine Lamarr ColeJacob Dutton | Jake One | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 6 |
Trouble
|
J. ColeBrandon Green | Jermaine Lamarr ColeBrandon Green | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 7 |
Runaway
|
J. ColeAnthony Parrino | Jermaine Lamarr ColeAnthony Parrino | J. ColeElite | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 8 |
She Knows
#90
|
J. ColeRyan MattosMadeline McKenna | Jermaine Lamarr ColeRyan MattosMadeline McKenna | J. Cole | Amber CoffmanCults |
| 9 |
Rich Niggaz
|
J. Cole | Jermaine Lamarr ColeMichael GifftsDeborah AndersonFabrice DumontStéphan HaeriChristophe HétierRonald GilmoreCedric Brown | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 10 |
Where's Jermaine? (Skit)
|
J. Cole | Jermaine Lamarr Cole | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 11 |
Forbidden Fruit
|
J. Cole | Jermaine Lamarr ColeRonald Lee Foster | J. Cole | Kendrick Lamar |
| 12 |
Chaining Day
|
J. Cole | Jermaine Lamarr ColeTerry StubbsJohn WilsonCharles Still | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 13 |
Ain't That Some Shit (Interlude)
|
J. ColeReggie Perry | Jermaine Lamarr ColeReggie Perry | Syience | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 14 |
Crooked Smile
#27
|
J. ColeAnthony ParrinoRich HarrisonMeleni Smith | Jermaine Lamarr ColeAnthony ParrinoRich HarrisonMeleni Smith | J. ColeElite | TLC |
| 15 |
Let Nas Down
|
J. ColeAnthony Parrino | Jermaine Lamarr ColeAnthony ParrinoFela Anikulapo Kuti | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 16 |
Born Sinner
|
J. ColeAnthony ParrinoJuro DavisCanei FinchAbbas HamadJames Fauntleroy II | Jermaine Lamarr ColeAnthony ParrinoJuro DavisCanei FinchAbbas HamadJames Fauntleroy II | J. ColeElite | James Fauntleroy |
| 17 |
Miss America
|
J. ColeBrookln Dekker | Jermaine Lamarr ColeBrookln Dekker | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 18 |
New York Times
|
J. ColeCurtis James Jackson IIIAbbas Hamad | Jermaine Lamarr ColeCurtis James Jackson IIIAbbas Hamad | J. Cole | 50 CentBas |
| 19 |
Is She Gon Pop
|
J. ColeJuro DavisAbbas HamadWayne Bell | Jermaine Lamarr ColeJuro DavisAbbas HamadWayne Bell | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 20 |
Niggaz Know
|
J. Cole | Jermaine Lamarr ColeWillie ChambersAndre GoodwinSteven JordanSean John CombsChristopher George Latore WallaceSteven HowseByron McCaneAnthony Henderson | J. Cole | J. Cole (Rap) |
| 21 |
Sparks Will Fly
|
J. ColeTaiwo HassanKehinde HassanDavid BollmannKelly BollmannStacie BollmannMatthew OsbornStephen Patrick | Jermaine Lamarr ColeTaiwo HassanKehinde HassanDavid BollmannKelly BollmannStacie BollmannMatthew OsbornStephen Patrick | Christian Rich | Jhené Aiko |