2014 Forest Hills Drive

2014 Forest Hills Drive is the third studio album by American rapper J. Cole, released on 9 December 2014 by ByStorm Entertainment, Columbia Records, Dreamville Records, and Roc Nation.

The album was produced primarily by J. Cole, alongside Illmind, Vinylz, Phonix Beats, and Willie B, with recording sessions spanning the entire year. Announced three weeks before its release, it had minimal marketing and no singles or promotions before launch. It was supported by four singles: “Apparently,” “Wet Dreamz,” “No Role Modelz,” and “Love Yourz.”

2014 Forest Hills Drive received widespread acclaim for its concept, production, and lyrical content. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 353,000 copies in its first week. By September 2015, it had sold one million copies in the United States and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in May 2019. The album won Album of the Year at the 2015 BET Hip Hop Awards and Top Rap Album at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards, and it was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards. The single “Apparently” was nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards.

The album’s title references Cole’s childhood home at 2014 Forest Hills Drive in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he lived with his family until 2003. This address is symbolic of his upbringing and the transition from North Carolina to New York in his quest for success. In 2014, Cole purchased the house and rented it out affordably to help others in need.

In August 2014, Cole released the song “Be Free” in response to the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Though recorded alongside “Intro” from 2014 Forest Hills Drive, “Be Free” was not intended for the album. Additionally, while Krayzie Bone and Bizzy Bone recorded a track with Cole for the album, it did not make the final cut. The album’s production involved several contributors, including Ron Gilmore, DJ Dahi, and others. Cole initially considered releasing the album as a double album.

On 16 November 2014, Cole announced the album and its release date through a video trailer. He also held a listening session at his childhood home. To promote the album, he launched the Forest Hills Drive Tour in 2015, which featured three acts across different regions, with notable guests such as Drake, Jay-Z, Big Sean, YG, and Jeremih. The tour sold over 570,000 tickets worldwide and grossed $20.4 million.

On 15 December 2015, Cole introduced a mini-documentary series, J. Cole: Road to Homecoming, leading up to the special Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming, which aired on HBO on 9 January 2016. On 28 January 2016, in celebration of his 31st birthday, Cole released his first live album, Forest Hills Drive: Live, along with a music video for “Love Yourz.”

The first single, “Apparently,” was released to urban radio on 9 December 2014 and has peaked at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was also nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards. The second single, “Wet Dreamz,” released on 14 April 2015, peaked at number 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA in June 2016. “No Role Modelz,” the third single, was sent to radio on 4 August 2015 and reached number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was certified platinum by the RIAA in May 2016. The fourth single, “Love Yourz,” was released on 27 February 2016 and reached number 25 on US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.

On 5 December 2014, Cole released a music video for “Intro,” and on 13 December 2014, Waka Flocka Flame released a freestyle over “Fire Squad.” A video for “G.O.M.D.” was released on 23 March 2015. On 27 November 2015, Cole and Kendrick Lamar released separate tracks titled “Black Friday,” with Cole remixing Lamar’s “Alright” and Lamar remixing Cole’s “A Tale of 2 Citiez.”