J. Cole was one of the most prominent names amongst a lineup of stars on Day One of Jay Z's Made In America festival.
Playing live for the first time since Aug. 2 in Montreal, Cole opened his set with "Be Free," his tribute to Feguson, Mo., teenager Michael Brown.
From Philly.com:
Before J. Cole came out, the big screens flanking the Liberty Stage showed a montage of cops brutalizing black men and women. It was set to the doleful strains of Cole's "Be Free," a track he rush-released as a response to the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.
Was the party atmosphere at Made in America about to get a polemical rebuke? No: The North Carolina rapper's performance was notably free of racial commentary. Instead he gave an energetic reading of his tracks, strutting, stumbling, and jumping around the stage like a crazed scarecrow to act out the sentiments of his lyrics.
After a guest appearance by rapper Bas on "Lit," Cole built to a volcanic climax of "Can't Get Enough," "Crooked Smile," and "Power Trip." It left the performer drained. The crowd clearly wanted more.
"Be Free" was one of the most prominent singles to come out of the Ferguson shooting, and evidence of J. Cole's passion for the events that took place.
"I'm tired of being desensitized to the murder of black men," rapper J. Cole said in a statement on the Dreamvillain website after releasing the song. "I don't give a f--- if it's by police or peers. This s--t is not normal."
"There was a time in my life when I gave a f---," Cole continued. "Every chance I got I was screaming about it. I was younger. It's so easy to try to save the world when you're in college. You got nothing but time and no responsibility. But soon life hits you. No more dorms, no more meal plan, no more refund check. N---a need a job. N---a got rent. Got car note. Cable bill. Girlfriend moves in and becomes wife. Baby on the way. Career advances. Instagram is poppin. Lebron leaves Miami. LIFE HITS. We become distracted. We become numb. I became numb. But not anymore. That coulda been me, easily. It could have been my best friend.... I made a song. This is how we feel."
Check out the following Instagram videos from the show (via MTV's Rob Markman):
Here's the full setlist (via Setlist.FM):
- Be Free
- Enchanted
- Blow Up
- Nobody's Perfect
- Work Out
- She Knows
- Lit (with Bas Kennis)
- Kenny Lofton
- Lights Please
- Can't Get Enough
- Crooked Smile
- Power Trip
