☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics address the false image that neighbors have of J. Cole.
- J. Cole desires privacy and distances himself from the public.
- Injustices and prejudices against black people are addressed.
- J. Cole feels threatened and insecure by the white-dominated society.
- In the end, J. Cole decides to move back to the South to escape the pressure of integration.
Interpretation
The song lyrics 'Neighbors' by
J. Cole are about the idea that the neighbors think he is selling drugs. He repeats the phrase 'the neighbors think I'm sellin' dope' over and over again to express that the neighbors have a false image of him.
The lyrics also show that J. Cole wants to distance himself from the public and needs privacy. He talks about building a house in the South to be away from the spotlight. He emphasizes that he is not seeking fame and wealth, but that fame is exhausting.
J. Cole also talks about the injustices and prejudices that black people face. He mentions the shooting of Trayvon Martin and that even if you have a nice house and success, you are still seen as a drug dealer. He feels threatened by the white-dominated society and does not feel safe.
At the end of the song, J. Cole decides to move back to the South to escape the pressure of integration.
Overall, the lyrics of 'Neighbors' by J. Cole are about the false image that the neighbors have of him, his search for privacy, and the confrontation with racism and prejudices in society.