As soon as I heard this album, I just knew it was exactly what I wanted. Unlike a lot of people here, I wasn't a huge J Cole fan. Sure, I had heard his mixtapes but never in-depth. To me, it often felt like Jay signed Cole to compensate for what he didn't have: empathy. I don't care if I was proved right or not, because this album was perfect from start to finish (yes, even Mr. Nice Watch). Cole has clearly been crafting this album for a long time, with or without help from Jay and Roc Nation.
Runners-Up:
Kendrick Lamar - Section.80
Yelawolf - Radioactive
Game - The R.E.D. Album
Royce da 5'9" - Success Is Certain
