Lion King on Ice

Last updated
"Lion King on Ice"
Single by J. Cole
from the EP Lewis Street
ReleasedJuly 22, 2020
Genre
Length3:30
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
J. Cole singles chronology
"Snow on tha Bluff"
(2020)		"Lion King on Ice" / "The Climb Back"
(2020)		"Interlude"
(2021)

"Lion King on Ice" is a song by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on July 22, 2020, together with another song, "The Climb Back", under the title Lewis Street . Produced by J. Cole, T-Minus and JetsonMade, the song finds Cole rapping about himself growing up and difficulties he faced to achieve fame, as well as his position in the rap game. [1]

Contents

Background

J. Cole announced the release of the songs via social media on July 21, 2020, along with its cover art, stating that they are the first two songs from The Fall Off. He also revealed that he was still "finishing" the album. In November 2019, Cole hinted that the album would be released in 2020. He also previously teased a project called The Off-Season . [2]

Composition

The song is rapped from the perspective of a younger J. Cole, who uses his alter ego "Young Simba", over a stripped back trap beat with high pitched vocal sampling. [3] Cole discusses his come-up and the uncertainty he felt while trying to be successful, as well as the struggles and sacrifices he made along the way. [1] He also talks about his childhood. [4] In the first verse he raps about how hard-working and dedicated he needed to be to make it, and the obstacles he endured along the way. [3] Towards the end of the song, Cole continues to reflect how those struggles led him to where he is today, and how far he has come. [5]

In 2018, J. Cole settled his feud with Lil Pump through an interview, in which he warned Pump about what to do to keep up with his success as a rapper and not lose popularity. [6] [7] Fans noticed that in the song, Cole addressed Pump in particular with the lyrics, "Nigga dissed me / It was nonsense / I sat 'em down like his father / My nigga asked, 'Why you bother?' / We should've caught him and mobbed him / I said, 'We gotta move smarter' / Don't wanna be the reason for one more sad song / I tried to warn niggas they wouldn't last long / I hope that you see how they came and they want / They shots never hit but they made their attempts / May have a good year like their name on a blimp / But you know what it takes to be poppin' this long". [6]

Charts

Chart performance for "Lion King on Ice"
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [8] 87
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [9] 59
Ireland (IRMA) [10] 45
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [11] 5
UK Singles (OCC) [12] 65
US Billboard Hot 100 [13] 51
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [14] 15
US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) [15] 26
US Rolling Stone Top 100 [16] 31

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [17] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yo Gotti</span> American rapper (born 1981)

Mario Sentell Giden Mims, known professionally as Yo Gotti, is an American rapper. In 1996, he released his debut album Youngsta's On a Come Up under the alias Lil Yo. He went on to release From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game (2000), Self-Explanatory (2001), Life (2003), Back 2 da Basics (2006), Live from the Kitchen (2012), I Am (2013), The Art of Hustle (2016), I Still Am (2017), Untrapped (2020) and CM10: Free Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Cole</span> American rapper and record producer (born 1985)

Jermaine Lamarr Cole is an American rapper and record producer. Born on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape, The Come Up, in early 2007. Intent on further pursuing a musical career, he went on to release two additional mixtapes, The Warm Up (2009) and Friday Night Lights (2010) both to critical acclaim, after signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Cole discography</span>

American rapper J. Cole has released six studio albums, one live album, four compilation albums, three extended plays, three mixtapes, 56 singles, two promotional singles and twenty one music videos. J. Cole first took up rapping in his teens, collaborating with the local Fayetteville hip hop duo Bomm Sheltuh. The Come Up, his debut mixtape, was released on May 4, 2007, to positive reception. Following the release of The Come Up, J. Cole was contacted by American rapper Jay Z and subsequently signed to his record label Roc Nation. Cole released his second mixtape The Warm Up on June 15, 2009. "Lights Please", the first single from The Warm Up, peaked at number nine on the United States Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart and became Cole's first entry on a national record chart. He was later featured on "All I Want Is You", a 2010 single by American R&B singer Miguel – it peaked at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100. J. Cole's third mixtape Friday Night Lights was released on November 12, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Cole production discography</span>

The following list is a discography of production by J. Cole, an American rapper and record producer. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niggas in Paris</span> 2011 single by Jay-Z and Kanye West

"Niggas in Paris" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West from their collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song is built around a synth bell loop from the Dirty South Bangaz music library, and contains vocal samples from "Baptizing Scene" by Reverend W.A. Donaldson, an interpolation of "Victory" by Puff Daddy featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes, and dialogue excerpts from the 2007 film Blades of Glory. On the week of the album's release, "Niggas in Paris" debuted at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number five. Outside of the United States, "Niggas in Paris" peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom. As of 2018, it has sold 6.7 million archetype digital units in the United States. The song won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.

"Control" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Big Sean, featuring fellow American rappers Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica. Lamar's verse was labelled a "wake-up call" for hip hop, both for his skill as a rapper and for calling out multiple fellow rappers by name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bas (rapper)</span> American rapper from New York

Abbas Hamad, mononymously known as Bas, is a Sudanese-American rapper. He is signed to J. Cole's Dreamville Records via Interscope Records. His first studio album Last Winter, was released on April 29, 2014, followed by his second studio album, Too High to Riot, which was released on March 4, 2016. Bas' third album, Milky Way, was released on August 24, 2018.

Shane Lee Lindstrom, known professionally as Murda Beatz, is a Canadian record producer. He has produced hit singles like "Butterfly Effect" by Travis Scott, "Back on Road" by Gucci Mane, "Nice for What" by Drake, "Motorsport" by Migos, and "Fefe", which was a collaboration between Murda, 6ix9ine, and Nicki Minaj.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lil Pump discography</span> Hip hop recording artist discography

American rapper Gazzy Fabio Garcia, known professionally as Lil Pump, has released three studio albums, one mixtape, thirty-eight singles and nineteen music videos. In March 2016, Lil Pump released his first single, "Elementary". His first single to hit the Billboard Hot 100 was "Gucci Gang", debuting at number 81 and later peaked at number 3 on the chart. The single is certified four-times platinum by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA).

"1985" is a song by American rapper J. Cole, released on April 20, 2018, from his studio album, KOD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lil Pump</span> American rapper (born 2000)

Gazzy Fabio Garcia, known professionally as Lil Pump, is an American rapper and singer. He is one of the most prominent artists of the SoundCloud rap scene and is known for his minimalist music and hyperactive public persona. Born and raised in Miami, Lil Pump gained initial recognition following the release of his debut studio album Lil Pump (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blueface</span> American rapper (born 1997)

Johnathan Jamall Porter, known professionally as Blueface, is an American rapper. In October 2018, after releasing the music video for his song "Respect My Cryppin'", he became a viral meme due to his offbeat style of rapping. The following month, he was signed to Cash Money West, the West Coast branch of Birdman's Cash Money Records label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tribe (Bas and J. Cole song)</span> 2018 single by Bas with J. Cole

"Tribe" is a song by American rappers Bas and J. Cole. It was released on August 22, 2018, as the second single for Bas's album Milky Way. The song was produced by Childish Major with additional production from J. Cole, and contains a sample of "Zum Zum" performed by Edu Lobo.

"A Lot" is a song by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage. The audio of the song was released on December 20, 2018 via the rapper's YouTube account. It was sent to rhythmic and urban contemporary radio on January 8, 2019 as the lead single from his second studio album I Am > I Was.

"Suge" (also known as "Suge (Yea Yea)") is the breakthrough hit by American rapper DaBaby, released as the lead single from his debut studio album Baby on Baby on April 23, 2019. It reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song's title is a reference to former music executive Suge Knight. It was produced by JetsonMade and Pooh Beatz. The song was later nominated for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. "Suge" was ranked as the 2nd best song of 2019 by Complex, and the 12th best by Billboard.

"We Paid" is a song by American rappers Lil Baby and 42 Dugg. It was released as part of the deluxe edition of Lil Baby's second studio album My Turn, on May 1, 2020. A video was released a week later, on May 6. "We Paid" is a braggadocious song about the rappers' wealth and come-ups. Regarded as a standout cut from My Turn, the song received rave reviews from critics, with particular praise for 42 Dugg. On the chart dated July 11, 2020, the song became 42 Dugg's first top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Climb Back</span> 2020 single by J. Cole

"The Climb Back" is a song by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on July 22, 2020, together with another song, "Lion King on Ice", under the title Lewis Street. "The Climb Back", which was written and produced solely by J. Cole, sees him rapping about various topics, including life-changing moments, the effects of those moments, and his rediscovered love of rap music. The song received universal acclaim from critics.

<i>Lewis Street</i> 2020 EP by J. Cole

Lewis Street is the third extended play from American rapper J. Cole. It was released on July 22, 2020, by Dreamville Records and Roc Nation. It contains the dual singles "The Climb Back" and "Lion King on Ice". The two singles were to serve as the first two tracks from one of Cole's upcoming albums The Fall Off. However, "The Climb Back" later was included on Cole's sixth studio album, The Off-Season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All These Niggas</span> 2020 single by King Von featuring Lil Durk

"All These Niggas" is a song by American rapper King Von featuring American rapper Lil Durk. It was released on August 5, 2020 as the second single and ninth track from Von's debut studio album Welcome to O'Block (2020). The song was produced by Chopsquad DJ.

<i>The Off-Season</i> 2021 studio album by J. Cole

The Off-Season is the sixth studio album by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on May 14, 2021, by Dreamville Records, Roc Nation and Interscope Records. The album was executive produced by Cole, Ibrahim Hamad, and T-Minus. It also features guest vocals from Morray, 21 Savage, Lil Baby, Bas, and 6lack. It became Cole's first album since 2013's Born Sinner to contain guest features. Production was handled by multiple producers, including Cole himself, T-Minus, Timbaland, Boi-1da, Frank Dukes, DJ Dahi, Tae Beast, and Jake One, among others.

References

  1. 1 2 Legaspi, Althea (2020-07-23). "J. Cole Previews Upcoming 'The Fall Off' LP With Singles 'The Climb Back,' 'Lion King on Ice'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  2. ↑ "J. Cole Announces A Pair Of New Singles From 'The Fall Off' Dropping This Week". Genius. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  3. 1 2 "J. Cole Drops Two New Singles And Announces New Album - NYS Music". NYS Music. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  4. ↑ "J. Cole Returns with 'The Climb Back' and 'Lion King on Ice' | Rap-Up". www.rap-up.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  5. ↑ Gibbs, Sam (2020-07-28). "J. Cole Teases New Album With "The Climb Back" and "Lion King on Ice"". Soundigest. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  6. 1 2 Price, Joe (July 23, 2020). "Why Fans Think J. Cole Is Rapping About Lil Pump on New Song "Lion King on Ice"". Complex.
  7. ↑ Zidel, Alex (July 23, 2020). "J. Cole's "Lion King On Ice" May Have Been For Lil Pump". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  8. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 3 August 2020". No. 1587. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 3, 2020.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. ↑ "J. Cole Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  11. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  13. ↑ "J. Cole Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  14. ↑ "J. Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  15. ↑ "J. Cole Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Top 100 Songs, July 24, 2020 - July 30, 2020". Rolling Stone . Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  17. ↑ "American single certifications – J. Cole – Lion King on Ice". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 11, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.