User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
Born Sinner Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 410 Ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length release for the rapper features guest appearances from Amber Coffman, Miguel, and Kendrick Lamar.
Buy Now
Buy on

Top Track

Power Trip
"" Got me up all night, all I'm singin' is love songs She got me up all night, constant drinkin' and love songs She got me up all night, down and out... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Jun 19, 2013
    90
    Overall, Born Sinner is an impressive effort.
  2. Like Illmatic it eschews pop emoluments, and conceptually it's just as canny.
  3. Jun 17, 2013
    80
    "Crooked Smile" with special guests TLC is a genuine, mature step in the right direction and will have no trouble reaching vintage age. A handful of other numbers carry that same weight, making Born Sinner a daring step forward for Cole and an exciting attempt at mastering Jay's Blueprint style.
  4. Jun 18, 2013
    70
    The flawed set is buoyed by its clear vision and diverse musicality.
  5. Jun 21, 2013
    68
    If Born Sinner proves anything, it’s that he’s not ready to take the fall, but he as a long way to go if he wants to rope off an area all his own in hip hop’s evolution.
  6. Jun 18, 2013
    63
    Cole's not an especially charismatic MC, but he has a welcome self-awareness and good taste in backdrops.
  7. 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.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 96
  2. Negative: 2 out of 96
  1. 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 firstBorn 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
  2. Jun 17, 2013
    10
    Cole goes IN and his production game is on point, best album i've heard in quite a while, every song blends production, flow, and lyrics soCole goes IN and his production game is on point, best album i've heard in quite a while, every song blends production, flow, and lyrics so perfectly it's hard to think of any way to make this album better Expand
  3. Jun 17, 2013
    10
    Amazing album. Huge step up from his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story, production and lyric wise. Best HIP HOP album dropping onAmazing album. Huge step up from his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story, production and lyric wise. Best HIP HOP album dropping on June 18th. Support the man! Expand
  4. 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, butThis 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
  5. 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 andVery 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
  6. Jun 23, 2013
    7
    I'm as big of a J. Cole fan as there is and after a few listens to this album I can't help but feel that some of the magic was lost from theI'm as big of a J. Cole fan as there is and after a few listens to this album I can't help but feel that some of the magic was lost from the original/past mix tapes. He seems to be in a dark place right now and while in some songs it translated well, others it didn't. Listen to this if you enjoy real hip-hop because there are some classics on this album you don't want to miss. Expand
  7. Jun 19, 2013
    0
    The same old music from J Cole. The same old. Nothing new here folks. Sorry but this album is trashy. It seems like the songs are left overThe same old music from J Cole. The same old. Nothing new here folks. Sorry but this album is trashy. It seems like the songs are left over from the sideline story.........next time maybe? Expand

See all 96 User Reviews