J. Cole released his fifth studio album on April 20th, 2018 (4/20)— Which is clever because the albums theme was centered around drug use. The 12-track album’s title “KOD” stands for three different things: “Kidz On Drugz,” “King Overdose” and “Kill Our Demonz.”
The day before KOD was released, J. Cole released a trailer for the album. He explained the three different meanings of KOD:
Kids on Drugs
“If I turn on the TV right now, it’s not going to be long before an advertisement pops up that says ‘are you feeling down? Have you been having lonely thoughts?’ And then they shove a pill in your face. The first response to any problem is medicate.” J. Cole said on the first meaning Kids on Drugs.
King Overdose
“‘King Overdose’ is “representing me… the times that I was—and am—afflicted by the same methods of escape, whether it be alcohol, phone addiction, women,” J. Cole added on the second meaning.
Kill Our Demons
“Kill Our Demons, That’s the end goal, to face our s–t, realize we have some s–t going on inside—everybody,” he said “I realized everybody family is f—ed up because nobody is f—ing perfect. Whether you want to or not, you’re going to f–k up your kids in some type of way, because you got f—ed up in some type of way… the plan is to f–k your kids up the least amount possible.”
‘Kill Our Demons’ is like, finding that s–t, whether it be from traumatic childhood experiences, whether it be from a lack of attention, confidence issues, insecurities—whatever it is, we gotta’ be honest with ourselves. Look in the mirror or look inside and ask ourselves questions, like ‘what’s causing me to run to this thing as an escape?’ And once I find the root of that, let me look it in its face an see what it really is.” J. Cole added on the last meaning of KOD.
During a listening event in New York City, J. Cole revealed the project at large was made in two weeks. “God was just giving it to me like ‘Here nigga, I’ll write it for you just take the credit.'”
Read: J. Cole’s “Neighbors” beat is “Forbidden Fruit” beat reversed
Read: J. Cole was an extra on Dave Chappelle’s movie ‘Block Party’
