J. Cole reminds us that we just want to be free on 2014 studio track In 2014
J. Cole performed his heartfelt, unreleased track, “Be Free” on David Letterman’s Late Night Show. Following the death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Cole spilled his heart out on “Be Free.”
Cole wrote a note after performing the track and reflecting on the killing of Mike Brown:
There was a time in my life when I gave a fuck. Every chance I got I was screaming about it. I was younger. It’s so easy to try to save the world when you’re in college. You got nothing but time and no responsibility. But soon life hits you. No more dorms, no more meal plan, no more refund check. Nigga need a job. Nigga got rent. Got car note. Cable bill. Girlfriend moves in and becomes wife. Baby on the way. Career advances. Instagram is poppin. Lebron leaves Miami. LIFE HITS. We become distracted. We become numb. I became numb. But not anymore. That coulda been me, easily. It could have been my best friend. I’m tired of being desensitized to the murder of black men. I don’t give a fuck if it’s by police or peers. This shit is not normal.
I made a song. This is how we feel. —Cole
