The much-buzzed about New Orleans rapper J. Cole has been very reputable with his three mixtapes since 2007. Each one has showcased his unique, warm beats and introspective lyrics, and ever since he was signed by Jay-Z to Roc-a-Fella Records, the anticipation for this young star-in-the-making has been off the charts.

There’s a lot of pressure on any artist delivering a debut album, but the pressures facing a rapper making his major label debut have got to be intense. We’ve seen countless hip-hop artists get their albums delayed indefinitely, destroying any of the buzz they might have garnered, and if the album is ever released at all, it is way past the point anyone would have cared about them. Cole World comes at just the right time in J. Cole’s career, and the material withstands the pressure. It may not be the best hip-hop album of the year, but it certainly makes a case for the most heartfelt debut.

Final Verdict: The album doesn’t break any new ground for Cole, lyrically or beat-wise, but it is a solid collection to show the public why he matters.