Born Sinner
by J. Cole
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Jun 18, 2013
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 410 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 308 out of 410
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 410
  3. Negative: 58 out of 410
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  1. Johnsmtih
    Dec 3, 2021
    10
    Timeless project one of coles many albums that show he is one of this generations best
  2. Hendo250
    Apr 6, 2021
    6
    this album is a 6 this album is a 6 this album is a 6 this album is a 6 this album is a 6
  3. Dwhit6
    Jan 23, 2020
    10
    This album got me through a rough patch in my life, Whether it was me relating to the bars or the uplifting messages across the project. Either way in my opinion this is Cole's best album.
  4. fifi3
    Jan 16, 2020
    7
    Born Sinner is really good. It is a honest, thoughtful and witty account on several issues by Cole and it has a lot of really cool production on it as well. There's a lot of versatility on here - a radio pop rap banger like Power Trip, the soulful Chaining Day, the politically charged New York Times, or a track like Born Sinner... it's just a really, really good album.
  5. Connorcox1997
    Feb 23, 2019
    10
    J Cole's Born Sinner is a big improvement to J Cole's Previous album. J Cole improved his lyrics, flows and his bars from his previous album. I loved all the songs on the album, from start to finish, especially additional songs form the deluxe edition. The beats are dope, and the production is great. Say What ever you want about Born Sinner, but J Cole has step up his rap game. Dope Album,J Cole's Born Sinner is a big improvement to J Cole's Previous album. J Cole improved his lyrics, flows and his bars from his previous album. I loved all the songs on the album, from start to finish, especially additional songs form the deluxe edition. The beats are dope, and the production is great. Say What ever you want about Born Sinner, but J Cole has step up his rap game. Dope Album, I highly recommended it.… Expand
  6. C_dot
    Dec 3, 2018
    7
    Born Sinner is an interesting album. The highs are high, and the lows are low.
  7. dell221
    Apr 24, 2018
    10
    easily the best album he has done. I love damn near every song up here Channing day is really good and stays on repeat. I love born sinner as well but its a little short. all in all i hope he gets back to doing albums like this
  8. FruitJuice
    Jul 17, 2017
    7
    Good album...........................................................................................................................................................................
  9. The_Following
    Apr 19, 2017
    7
    J.Cole Pours Out Everything that he wanted to deliver on Cole World Sideline Story...Lyrically J.Cole Spills Outs His Darkest Thoughts and Sincerity. Beautiful Tracks Like "Runaway" and "Rich Shows why J.Cole May have the ability to rise to the top. Personal Tracks Like "Let Nas Down" and "Born Sinner" shows that J.Cole will never lose sight of what he is and what he wants to become. ThisJ.Cole Pours Out Everything that he wanted to deliver on Cole World Sideline Story...Lyrically J.Cole Spills Outs His Darkest Thoughts and Sincerity. Beautiful Tracks Like "Runaway" and "Rich Shows why J.Cole May have the ability to rise to the top. Personal Tracks Like "Let Nas Down" and "Born Sinner" shows that J.Cole will never lose sight of what he is and what he wants to become. This Album may not completely broadcast j.cole's ability but its brings light to what he has in store for the future.… Expand
  10. keve16
    Mar 22, 2015
    8
    7.9/10................................................................................................................................................
  11. homer4president
    Mar 11, 2015
    9
    This album is one that you have to find a nice seat and some decent headphones for and it's worth it! At time it can be a little heavy, but it's honest. The weight of his convictions about hip hop are real, and I respect that...a lot. Take the time and understand his metaphorical analogies throughout the record.

    I loved this album. It remains my favorite album to listen to. I've sat    This album is one that you have to find a nice seat and some decent headphones for and it's worth it! At time it can be a little heavy, but it's honest. The weight of his convictions about hip hop are real, and I respect that...a lot. Take the time and understand his metaphorical analogies throughout the record.

    I loved this album. It remains my favorite album to listen to. I've sat down and listened to the whole thing over and over because I just love it. It will never get old to me, it's a classic.    … Expand
  12. emlugo123
    Mar 10, 2015
    9
    A lot of people are saying this album is "boring" or "dull" but honestly if you think that, you can't admire the artistry in this album. Personally, I believe this album is amazing and the stories told in it are impeccable and something most rappers can't do. Cole deserves to be at the top of the charts with this masterpiece.
  13. TlotlanDOC
    Dec 20, 2014
    10
    Born Sinner is J. Cole in a moment where he felt truly liberated from all the expectation that was placed on him since becoming Jay Z's first artist on Roc Nation. As usual he feels like he has a lot to give the listener hence he produced the entire album lest two interlude tracks and had no rap features. The singing features by Miguel and TLC are also written by Cole and probably theBorn Sinner is J. Cole in a moment where he felt truly liberated from all the expectation that was placed on him since becoming Jay Z's first artist on Roc Nation. As usual he feels like he has a lot to give the listener hence he produced the entire album lest two interlude tracks and had no rap features. The singing features by Miguel and TLC are also written by Cole and probably the title track's hook was co-written with James Fauntleroy which shows that Sole is as adept a hook writer as he is a lyricist. On Born sinner Cole channels some of his old releases as on several songs he has rhyme schemes which his most ardent followers would have heard on an earlier project, for which he cannot be blamed since between being signed and releasing his debut album, Cole dropped more than a fair share of potent material deserving classic status and commercial recognition. All in all this album will do him a lot of good in him channeling that hunger he wowed us with since he burst on the rap scene and the confidence to do what he feels is his best form of music without unnecessary external pressure.… Expand
  14. comebackkid12
    Dec 8, 2014
    7
    Rather than take matters into his own hands and command his own legacy, Cole almost seems excited just to gaze and take in his idols, which sometimes works, and other times doesn't in his sophomore effort, "Born Sinner." Sure, it has the hits to be able to power him to the top of the charts, and the dark mood surrounding the record is enchanting, but for most of the time, it feels as ifRather than take matters into his own hands and command his own legacy, Cole almost seems excited just to gaze and take in his idols, which sometimes works, and other times doesn't in his sophomore effort, "Born Sinner." Sure, it has the hits to be able to power him to the top of the charts, and the dark mood surrounding the record is enchanting, but for most of the time, it feels as if Cole is hesitant to take on his own role, and instead is satisfied with sitting back, not charging ahead. The storytelling and persona is on another level for this project however, and Cole does an amazing job painting a vivid picture in our heads, with his lyrical cunning standing over a lot of the album. The heartfelt moments of him having an inner battle for the pursuit of groupies or something more is evident, but the problem is that Cole doesn't yet have the swagger to be able to pull it off. Most of the middle parts of the record feel unnecessary and filler, when really they shouldn't. When it's all said and done however, "Born Sinner" is an excellent tale that has the honest moments and anthems it needs to be successful. Just how successful it can be, though, is up to Cole himself. Tracks that stood out to me were the 5-minute welcoming "Villuminati," the soulful "Born Sinner" (with James Fauntleroy providing a fantastic & fitting chorus), and the honesty-filled "Let Nas Down."… Expand
  15. squanto_
    Apr 25, 2014
    8
    Very solid follow up to Cole World: The Sideline Story, but still not on the level of his mixtapes. The album flows very well lyrically and musically since Cole handles both areas by himself. "Villuminati" is a fantastic intro, and "Power Trip" is one of my favorite radio singles in a long while. Born Sinner has solid replay value, but I really have to be in a certain mood to want toVery solid follow up to Cole World: The Sideline Story, but still not on the level of his mixtapes. The album flows very well lyrically and musically since Cole handles both areas by himself. "Villuminati" is a fantastic intro, and "Power Trip" is one of my favorite radio singles in a long while. Born Sinner has solid replay value, but I really have to be in a certain mood to want to listen to it. I also don't feel like it has a track as good as "Lost Ones", "Farewell", "Losing My Balance", etc. highlighting the album. I'm really hoping mixtape Cole reappears with his next album as he branches out to more producers and artists and their sounds and ideas.… Expand
  16. Velocijoey
    Mar 19, 2014
    9
    I was not a fan of Cole's first release and I was rather skeptical going into this album. After giving it a few listens, i was addicted. This album shows what he can truly do as not just a rapper, but as a great producer. While the mainstream singles are catchy, songs such as "Runaway" and "Rich **** show his true potential. NAS comparisons galore. Enough said.
  17. adhamhany
    Feb 18, 2014
    9
    I don't understand why this is rated so low compared to other rap albums released in 2013. This is better than most of them. It has some of the best production around. The samples are absolutely fantastic. J. Cole's rapping is pretty great, accompanied by very good lyrics.

    It's actually pointless to state my favorite tracks, 'cause that'll be like writing the track listing (or more than    I don't understand why this is rated so low compared to other rap albums released in 2013. This is better than most of them. It has some of the best production around. The samples are absolutely fantastic. J. Cole's rapping is pretty great, accompanied by very good lyrics.

    It's actually pointless to state my favorite tracks, 'cause that'll be like writing the track listing (or more than half of it, anyway). But i do recommend the Deluxe Edition. It has some mesmerizing tracks in it.

    It may not be innovative or groundbreaking or anything like that; but with an album this good, it really doesn't need to be. Beautiful. Absolutely Beautiful.    … Expand
  18. ben_zo77
    Feb 10, 2014
    8
    Born Sinner is a step up from J. Cole's debut album. He reminds me strongly of Nas in this album. The lyrics are impressive, but a lot of the album sounded the same and the message of the album was pretty stale. He didn't push the envelope when it came to taking on relevant, socially conscious topics. Cole does, however, sound more confident than in Cole World: The Sideline Story. His micBorn Sinner is a step up from J. Cole's debut album. He reminds me strongly of Nas in this album. The lyrics are impressive, but a lot of the album sounded the same and the message of the album was pretty stale. He didn't push the envelope when it came to taking on relevant, socially conscious topics. Cole does, however, sound more confident than in Cole World: The Sideline Story. His mic presence is starting to take shape. It's great that he clearly takes cues from Kanye, Nas, and sometimes Jay Z, but if Cole wants to cement himself as a big figure in hip-hop he needs to go off in his own direction and do his own thing. Cole has the talent to be a legend, but I'm not sure if he's ever going to harness it properly. Overall though, Born Sinner's lyrics and flow makes me give it an 8. Even at his worst, Cole is better than most rappers in the game. ~ 7.9/10

    Best track: "Let Nas Down" -- The storytelling of Cole on this song is incredible. Also, I love the use of a saxophone in the background.

    Other notable tracks: "Trouble", "Rich **** "Forbidden Fruit", "Miss America" & "New York Times"    … Expand
  19. jacobygr
    Jan 16, 2014
    8
    Great step up, my favorite track is Let Nas Down. He does a great job with his storytelling, proves he is Jay's secret weapon at the Roc. I liked it just as much as Yeezus
  20. JamieVic
    Jan 10, 2014
    6
    Born Sinner reminded me of Kanye West's debut album The College Dropout. The production was very soulful and it worked in his favour. His album also tells a story we want to listen to which is evident in Crooked Smile, Let Nas Down and Chaining Day. However, I felt like there were a little too many fillers on the album that made the album seem repetitive. Nonetheless, it was an overall success.
  21. Cedric1
    Dec 18, 2013
    7
    Definitely an excellent album and it shows real character growth from the first album. The sound is more cohesive and the production on this one is top notch. Where the first album felt a little bit to label driven this album seems like it's Jermaine own product. The things I didn't like about this album were his tendency to be a bit too humble and not step in and be aggressive enough likeDefinitely an excellent album and it shows real character growth from the first album. The sound is more cohesive and the production on this one is top notch. Where the first album felt a little bit to label driven this album seems like it's Jermaine own product. The things I didn't like about this album were his tendency to be a bit too humble and not step in and be aggressive enough like he does on the first track. And although I like 'chaining day' I didn't feel like it should have been on this album unless it was a bonus track. It just didn't feel right in the tone this album was setting. Certainly a must listen for any cole fan, but I really feel he can do better and I hope this is a stepping stone for an even greater album… Expand
  22. Say_Chidz
    Nov 20, 2013
    9
    Born Sinner is this decade's Late Registration, its themes styles and production methodology are a strikingly poetic ode to Kanye's second album. it is one of the finest rap albums of the year and will be a big contender for the Rap Album Grammy.
  23. Sci-Fi-Dude1456
    Nov 12, 2013
    9
    EVERYTHING about this album is a big and huge step up from his last album, Cole World: The Sideline Story. Lots of songs on here are really good. Be sure to buy this album if you like the songs!
  24. bporter24
    Sep 21, 2013
    10
    A solid album by J. Cole. Most people hate on him because he went up against Kanye and has outsold him to this point. In due time Born Sinner will get it's proper recognition as an important album from an important artist. The impact it had with Nas, and Cole's boldness and bravado definitely make this his most interesting and inviting album. Multiple gems on this album.
  25. gberlin101
    Aug 28, 2013
    10
    J. Cole takes a step up with Born Sinner. Leading up to it with the Truly Yours series he sets the stage for a thematically organized and poignant album that illuminates Jermaine Cole's journey in the rap industry and showcases his ability as a lyricist.
  26. HGossI
    Jul 28, 2013
    5
    J. Cole is a talented emcee. Unfortunately, Born Sinner isn't up to his standard. Gifted with a unique style, Cole doesn't need to copy any rapper. At times Sinner sounds like Take Care... but r&b/rap sound is better left to Drake. Cole struggles with this mellow sound, and doesn't have a natural singing voice. The times he is best on Born Sinner is when he is eating up beats and makingJ. Cole is a talented emcee. Unfortunately, Born Sinner isn't up to his standard. Gifted with a unique style, Cole doesn't need to copy any rapper. At times Sinner sounds like Take Care... but r&b/rap sound is better left to Drake. Cole struggles with this mellow sound, and doesn't have a natural singing voice. The times he is best on Born Sinner is when he is eating up beats and making bangers. This sound is almost nowhere to be found, and overall the album suffers because of it. I'm convinced that J. Cole has longevity in this game, but efforts like Born Sinner wont solidify him. Overall, Cole's second album lacks the energy of his first, has repetitive, boring production, and is below the par he set with Cole World.… Expand
  27. musicaddict22
    Jul 24, 2013
    7
    Don't get me wrong, J. Cole's sophomore album "Born Sinner" isn't a bad effort by any means, it just isn't quite enough. Throughout, both the lyricism and production on this LP seem to fall just a bit too flat. And yet, it really is difficult for me to express any particular flaw in the album. The beats are groovy, the lyrics are clever, and the hooks are catchy. But it just isn't quiteDon't get me wrong, J. Cole's sophomore album "Born Sinner" isn't a bad effort by any means, it just isn't quite enough. Throughout, both the lyricism and production on this LP seem to fall just a bit too flat. And yet, it really is difficult for me to express any particular flaw in the album. The beats are groovy, the lyrics are clever, and the hooks are catchy. But it just isn't quite there. Overall, it seems like Cole didn't try all that hard. There are a few tracks on the LP that stand out in both lyrical content and production, but the rest seem to be ever so slightly uninspired.

    Unfortunately for Cole, "Born Sinner" has been compared side by side with Kanye's new LP "Yeezus" since its initial release. But fans of J. Cole have nothing to worry about, 'Born Sinner' is on every level superior to Kanye and Mac Miller's new albums. Overall, I find myself with very little to say about this album. It's just... ok. If anything the thematic substance is a bit weak, but that is an adjective I could use for practically every characteristic of the album. A decent 7/10 for this album might be generous, but for some reason I can't really see myself scoring it any lower. I've found myself going back to it several times since it came out, and yet I don't love it, so I feel a 7/10 is adequate.

    STANDOUT TRACKS:
    'Born Sinner'
    'Let Nas Down' (hands down best track on the album)
    'Villuminati'    … Expand
  28. rydermusic
    Jul 22, 2013
    7
    In this album, J. Cole demonstrates his skill as a rapper and producer. Despite Born Sinner is a respectable album, this album is a step backwards compared to Cole World: The Sideline Story.
  29. Kathaline1
    Jul 21, 2013
    9
    Hey...this is also a very good album! He may truly be hip-hop's savior! I can listen to this album all the way through from beginning to end. Now that's a good album!
  30. CALx27o
    Jul 15, 2013
    8
    This is one of my favorite albums so far in 2013. Some of the beats where wack, but lyrics just made up for that. I have to say this is a big step up from Cole World.
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Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Most Discussed Album of 2013
52
#52 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. PopMatters
    Jul 15, 2013
    70
    He’s certainly impressed with his flow, delivery and production, and while he hasn’t released the next golden hip hop album he’s coming close.
    Read full review
  2. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Jul 9, 2013
    40
    There are some solid points buried deep down in the wreckage of Cole’s seven-bar pileup, but you’ll have to sift through a great, big, ambivalent pile of solecisms in order to get to them. As it turns out, that holds true for the vast majority of Born Sinner.
    Read full review
  3. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Jul 2, 2013
    53
    Three years after his album should have put the "sideline" comments to rest, Cole’s still studying the traditional playbook from the bench, preferring to follow Nas’ bible than strike out on his own.
    Read full review
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