Avg Rating: 
3.7 ( 80 total votes )
J. Cole - Work Out
Artist: J. Cole
Producer: J. Cole and Elite
Album: Cole World: Sideline Story
Label: Roc Nation/Columbia
Kanye‘s The New Workout Plan was a dope song to be sure, but you know what would be really dope? If someone came along and flipped it so that, instead of being about exercise, it was about casual sex. What’s that? That’s what it was about to begin with? Oh… actually, that explains a lot. Jokes aside, the long-awaited lead single off J. Cole‘s debut single finds the Roc Nation standard-bearer making the risque subtext of Yeezy’s single (more) overt, asking a one-night stand toWork Out for his viewing pleasure. Cole collides with frequent production partner Elite behind the boards, crafting a minimal beat prominently sampling the Roger Troutman-inspired vocoder outro to Ye’s jam (clearing which reportedly caused the delay of the single’s release). Simba keeps it casual on the mic, exercising his female appeal in flirtatious bars and quoting Paula Abdul’s Straight Up on the hook. So, readers, was this single worth the wait? Debatezaway—and keep it locked for all the latest on J. Cole’s yet-untitled Cole World: Sideline Story, yet-unscheduled
debut set for release on September 27.
This song first appeared on the
Top Hip Hop / R&B Chart
on June 27, 2011
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Showing 50 of 80 Ratings. See All Ratings
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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J.Cole is constantly dropping hits.. Makes me feel good to be living in NC
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11651 |
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I don't know why I had different expectations for this single, but I through them all out the door when I pressed play. I am a fan.
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1338 |
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I'm in love. I'm definitely buying this album.
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 70 |
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Really?
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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I liked Lost Ones and Return of Simba more. But J. Cole puts out another banger. Reminds me of Kanye which seems right since he used a piece of an old Kanye song. Can't wait for the album. Its gonna be a Cole Summer
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1217 |
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It wasn't what I expected considering I haven't really heard anything like this from him in the past, but Cole has a tendency to always make good music and "Workout" is exactly that. I didn't think that the beat was anything extraordinary and the sample wasn't exactly the greatest, but despite everything, the track as a whole seems to come together nicely and I don't see why it wouldn't receive attention as a hit singe even if it does lack the spark that radio does prefer to play. I'm not the biggest J. Cole fan, but I do recognize talent when I hear it. Cole can take as much time as he needs to make that album of his as long as it promises some quality tracks like this one right here.
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1069 |
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I dont know but I was expecting something more firey from Cole's debut single...Hmph, I am not dissappointed but I guess I was expecting "magic". Its a good track though...
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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It's cool. Mellow.
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 128 |
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Not nearly as good as Kanyes...but its alright
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 678 |
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Safe, boring, a watered down radio hit. I can't believe this is the music Cole wants to make?
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 492 |
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This tracks kindve a bummer for me since ive been a huge cole fan since the come up dropped and if this is the way theyre gonna decide to market him none of his soul sound is gonna shine through from the mixtapes. Catchy but still a bummer
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 4 |
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FIRE!!! I CANT WAIT TILL THIS ALBUM DROPS!!!
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 92 |
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Had to post this yesterday as soon as I heard it. Def a banger . .
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 455 |
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Ummm... Didn't feel the track
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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not sure if i like this...it seemed like j. cole mashed his sound with radio appeal...but the beat is really minimalistic, so i unno how it will flair at all
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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love it :)
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 33 |
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When you put aside expectations you can see a track for what it is, and this is FIRE! Good choice for lead single, this will catch a few ears that didn't alredy know bout J.Cole. Dope track
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 13 |
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I like this song, its defiantly not what I was expecting from his first single. This is good for the radio, defiantly getting the album.
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 73 |
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This track is pretty good i'll keep it in rotation and
happy birthday 2pac best rapper ever. |
| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1189 |
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Im sorry but i thought this was mad week for a guy that the internet blogs have hyped up. He seriously needs to step up his production game if he thinks he can make a serious impact in mainstream music.
In The Morning would of been a much better single choice |
| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 1189 |
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weak*
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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really chilled out track. Cool flip of NWP but to be honest I was expecting more from J. Coles first single. Hopefully it will have success on the billboard charts
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 194 |
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pretty solid
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 319 |
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A below average lyrical performance from Cole in my opinion, saved by the monster beat... I don't know why people are hating on it? I'm loving the old-school Timbaland vibe to it...
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 188 |
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Disappointing for a J. Cole song, but still good. Enough to hold me over for a while, but I was expecting better.
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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shits hot, cant stop playing it. Perfect single. Imma give it a 5 just to up the ratings a lil ;)
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1142 |
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Nothing spectacular, but it will help J.Cole to make a splash.
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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Surprising, but not bad. Just was expecting a more powerful single...
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 699 |
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I'm a little disappointed. Maybe my expectations were to high, but I think Cole can do better. This one is missing his unique flavor. It's not bad, just a little underwhelming.
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 224 |
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A good single. Production is great. This song could've been a lot better. 3/5
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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putting this to sell his album, thx to the label stuff and watever..
still jcole is the best mainstream rapper alive |
| Posted on Jun 17, 2011 |
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oldskool baby! loving the beat.
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2011 |
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Not worth the wait.
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2011 |
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2011 |
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cole gonna be a legend.
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2011 |
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 4267 |
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The term “lead single” could have been applied about 47 times so far in the course of J. Cole's album campaign, but "Work Out" is by far the most commercially appealing track I've heard from him, thus making it an obvious single choice.
The song, despite having a totally instant melody, is a grower. At first I thought there was something missing. Now I'm really settling in with it. With each listen I appreciated the sound more, but I still don’t know what to make of it. With all the completeness this track is showcasing, I'm not hearing a smash hit here, but hopefully it will have a more prominent role on charts than on my iPod. Cos if anyone deserves success or at least a chance at it, it's J. Cole! The good news is, despite being a label-pushed single, J. Cole doesn't sacrifice too much lyrical skill and managed to squeeze in some good entertaining lines in there, all the while effectively switching his rap flow to harmonizing on hooks. The production, while in my opinion certainly not upper tier, is optimally arranged in a fresh, catchy and melodic package. It’s clearly ready for consumption on a high level but the cynical side of me is still unconvinced about staying power here. It’s very solid, but it doesn’t come together as well as it should. I think this is the type of track that is just enough to satiate the typical J.Cole fanbase and is meant to expand the fan base, especially an attempt to attract the fairer sex. But the thing is it might not succeed in that latter department completely. All in all, while success won’t be achieved overnight, "Work Out" certainly puts him in the conversation. People, let's make this catch on. And for the DJs out there, do your part and play this. |
| Posted on Jun 18, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 395 |
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this is a nice song pretty funny too
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2011 |
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2011 |
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Personally, I love it. I don't understand all the hate the single has been receiving. To me, it has "classic" written all over it and holds true to J. Cole's roots. The only problem I see with it is that it sounds like it could have been a major hit in 90's rather than the present.
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2011 |
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| Posted on Jun 20, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 177 |
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i really expected more. but its not bad at all
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| Posted on Jun 20, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2905 |
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J.Cole. This is not what I wanted, but you still have my loyalty : p but sorry don't like this one...
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| Posted on Jun 20, 2011 |
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| Posted on Jun 20, 2011 |
Showing 50 of 80 Ratings. See All Ratings
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