“Ville Mentality” focuses on the perils of fame that Cole has experienced. He reiterates his feelings about choosing an early retirement from the rap game.
Cole originally used the term “ville mentality” on his 2013 song “Can I Holla At Ya.” He also brought up the term “Fayetteville mentality” in h...
[Chorus]
How long can I survive with this mentality?
How long can I survive with this mentality?
Things fall down, but don’t stop now
Oh, can’t stop now
Oh, won’t stop now
[Verse]
Trials and tribulations I'm facing
In this age of information, I hate this shit
'Cause niggas hit my phone when they want some shit
Bitches hit my phone when they want some dick
Damn it, won't be long 'fore I disappear
Damn it, won't be long 'fore I disappear
Damn it, won't be long 'fore I disappear
Damn it, won't be long 'fore I disappear
You call it runnin', I call it escapin'
Start a new life in a foreign location
Similar to my niggas duckin' cases
Can't take the possible time that he faces
[Chorus]
How long can I survive with this mentality?
How long can I survive with this mentality?
Things fall down, but don’t stop now
Oh, can’t stop now
Oh, won’t stop now
[Interlude]
My dad, he died—he got shot 'cause his friend set him up. And I didn't go to his funeral—and sometimes when I'm in my room, I get mad at my momma when she mean to me. And she—
And she say, "clean up"—I say—
[Bridge]
Nigga play me, never, give up my chain, never
Give up my pride, never, show 'em my pain, never
Dirt on my name, never, dirt on my name, never
Dirt on my name, never, dirt on my name, never
Nigga play me, never, give up my chain, never
Give up my pride, never, show 'em my pain, never
Dirt on my name, never, dirt on my name, never
Dirt on my name, never, dirt on my name, never
[Chorus]
How long can I survive with this mentality?
How long can I survive with this mentality?
Things fall down, but don’t stop now
Oh, can’t stop now
Oh, won’t stop now
[Outro]
I get mad and I slam my door and go in my room—
And then, I get mad and I say, "I wish my dad was here"
Ville Mentality was written by Yuli & Elite & Ron Gilmore & Jasmin Easterly & Theo Croker & J. Cole.
Ville Mentality was produced by J. Cole & Elite & Ron Gilmore.
J. Cole released Ville Mentality on Thu Dec 08 2016.
Cole addresses the ‘Fayetteville mentality’ in his documentary 2014 Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming. He explains that the ‘ville mentality’ is believing that you have to leave the town in order to find opportunity. However, Cole had a revelation once he finally moved to New York for college:
I reali...
It is an un-named girl from Cole’s hometown, Fayetteville.
Read more about her inclusion in this project in this annotation.