| KOD | ||||
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&sq=&lang=&file=File:JColeKOD.jpg) Standard album cover. The text on the album cover reads, "This album is in no way intended to glorify addiction". | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 20, 2018 | |||
| Recorded | 2017–2018 | |||
| Genre | Conscious hip hop | |||
| Length | 42:27 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| J. Cole chronology | ||||
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| Singles from KOD | ||||
KOD (an initialism for Kids on Drugs, King Overdosed and Kill Our Demons)[1] is the fifth studio album by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on April 20, 2018 through Dreamville Records, Roc Nation and Interscope Records.[2]
The majority of the album's production was handled by Cole himself, along with others such as T-Minus, Mark Pelli, BLVK and Ron Gilmore. The album incorporates elements of jazz rap and trap. Cole has stated that the production and rhyme schemes used throughout the album were inspired by SoundCloud rap. The album explores a variety of topics including drug abuse, addiction, depression, greed, African-American culture, and taxation in the United States.[3]
The album was supported by two singles: "KOD" and "ATM", both of which debuted in the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In August 2018, Cole embarked on the KOD Tour to promote the album.
KOD received positive reviews from critics and debuted atop the US Billboard 200, selling 397,000 album-equivalent units in its first week (174,000 coming from pure sales), earning Cole his fifth consecutive number-one album in the country. It also broke several streaming records. The album has since been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album also debuted at number one in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. KOD appeared on several music publications' mid-year and year-end lists. HipHopDX, HotNewHipHop and Uproxx named it the best hip hop album of 2018.
- ^ J. Cole (April 19, 2018). "KOD. 3 meanings. The rest of the album I leave to your interpretation". Twitter. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ "KOD by J. Cole on iTunes". Apple Music. 20 April 2018. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ "The North Carolina MC returns to form and tackles the topics of drug abuse, addiction, depression and Black America". Medium. April 22, 2018. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2018.