J Cole at the Air Canada Centre

On Friday July 28th. Toronto was blessed with the presence of the dreamville rapper J cole. currently touring for his 4th major label album “4 Your Eyez Only”. J cole has done what others have thought impossible, with his second album to go platinum with no features.

As the ACC slowly started to fill up with fans it was exciting to see the main stage set up in the center of the venue with street lamps adorned with security cameras that pointed in towards the stage and a few out towards the crowd. This only helped to amp up the crowd to the eventual arrival of J cole.

The night started off with the likes of Ari Lennox, J.I.D., Bas and Anderson .Paak. Playing off at the side stage, it looked a little off as some of the fans that had floor seats that were pointed away towards center stage. Through all that Anderson .PAAK still managed to get the crowd going with a couple hits off his “Malibu” album.

As the last of the openers finished up, most if not all the seats in the ACC were all filled up with fans that had to patiently wait in the dark. Then boom out of nowhere a spotlight shined down to a corner of the Stadium. As the cheer of the crowd grew louder and louder. J cole in full character was escorted out onto stage in and orange jumpsuit.

J cole took no time at all and jumped right into “For Whom The Bell Tolls” before addressing the crowd and expressing how happy he was to be back after his set at OVO fest was cut short due to bad weather. Unconventionally, unlike other artist and or rappers J cole continued to play through his album song for song, straight down the track list for “4 Your Eyez Only”.

After Bringing out Ari Lennox to help him play “Change” J cole goes into explain how he wanted to play his album straight through for the show. He explains that after spending his days and nights to meticulously writing and putting this album together, should he not play the whole album. from hits to misses because he has an obligation to the crowd, himself and to the album to not pick and choose.

Although he played the songs off the album in sequence, J cole still managed to sneak in a few throw backs from “Born Sinner” to “Cole World: The Sideline Story” for his “day ones”.

J Cole later showed the crowd a video of his house in the suburbs being raided by a fully suited up SWAT team before revealing that this was the reason he created his song “neighbors”.

After mellowing out the crowd with “Foldin Clothes” and “She’s Mine Pt.2” J cole warns people that the next song was to be his last, addressing those that want to head out before the traffic hits. laughing at the fact that this last song was a commitment to stay and listen to for it was a 8 minute song. It was amazing to see that even after that no one seemed to budge. As J cole started to sing “4 Your Eyez Only” it was hard not to sit back and listen to this 8 minute long story that only seemed to help wrap up the show and so completely end off this album.