LAnd of the Snakes

Album: Born Sinner (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • J. Cole and his right hand man Ibrahim "IB" Hamad went to LA in February 2012 thinking they were going to finish Born Sinner off. This is one of the tracks that survived that time period.
  • This song finds Cole rapping about his humble childhood in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he had to share a bedroom with his brother. He goes on to spit about his move to New York City to jump start his rap career, his trip to the West Coast and the ensuing struggle with temptation there.
  • The stylization of the song title is a strong hint as to where Cole thinks the "snakes" are. Cole explained to Hartford, Connecticut., radio station Hot 93.7: "The L and the A are capitalized in' Land.' It is roughly about this time I went to LA to record an album and I thought about moving out there. I considered it, but the other side was telling me, 'Don't do it, it's dangerous.' You can lose yourself in Los Angeles, it has a dangerous climate - loosely [the song] is about that. It's just an ill song, [it has] a lot of good flows, and the beat is crazy."

    The snake as a symbol of the tempter goes back to the biblical account in Genesis 3 1-6 where the Devil disguised himself as a serpent when he successfully persuaded Eve to rebel against God.
  • The song samples the descending synths of Outkast's 1998 track "Da Art of Storytellin' (Pt. 1.)" Hammad told Vibe magazine: "(We) Thought Outkast was going to tax us for 100% but they were generous, I'm just glad they cleared the sample."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.