Song meaning of 03' Adolescence by J. Cole

Oh, J. Cole, our residential philosopher rapper, takes us on a journey through his '03 Adolescence with more teenage angst than a high school diary. He starts off by lamenting about being a "screw up" and wishing for some new shoes, because we all know the key to success lies in fresh kicks. He's pining for the baddest girl in the city but can't work up the courage to talk to her, probably because he's too busy watching from the sidelines like a benchwarmer at a basketball game. Then he dives into a tale of street life that involves burnt CDs, trees (not the green kind), and shady deals in hallways that make Broadway look like child's play. But don't worry, J. Cole gets some wisdom from a friend who calls him out for glorifying his struggles when he's actually the real MVP aiming for a degree while his buddy is stuck in a life of questionable choices. In the end, he thanks his mama for making him into a genius and promises to show the world he can fly – because nothing says "I made it" like flaunting your success in front of your high school crush. Who is J. Cole, you ask? Just the illest, most misunderstood rapper trying to make his mama proud and show the world that he's more than just a kid from the 'hood with a killer flow and killer kicks. Watch out, world, J. Cole is here to conquer adolescence one rap verse at a time.