"Miss America" is a song by American hip hop recording artist and record producer J. Cole, released November 13, 2012 as the first promotional single from his second studio album Born Sinner (2013). The song, which was produced by Cole himself, samples Rue Royale's "Flightline". The song debuted at #34 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song was used in Ubisoft's Launch trailer for the 2013 video game Splinter Cell: Blacklist.
| "Miss America" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by J. Cole | |
| from the album Born Sinner | |
| Released | November 13, 2012 |
| Recorded | 2012 |
| Genre | Hip hop |
| Length | 3:44 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | Jermaine Lamar Cole, Brookln Dekker |
| Producer(s) | J. Cole |
Background
editOn November 5, 2012, J. Cole announced that his second studio album would be titled Born Sinner and would release on January 28, 2013, along with a teaser video for it.[1] Prior to the November 13, 2012 release of "Miss America" Cole also released a teaser video for the single.[2] The single cover was released on November 12, 2012.[3] Cole said he pushed away pop-accessibility in order to put out a single that provides social commentary.[4] The song has been described by multiple outlets and Cole himself as not an ordinary first single and in no way directed towards radio.[5][6] Later Cole leaked another version of the song called "Miss America Reprise" which features the same lyrics but different production compared to the single version.[7]
Themes
editThe song Miss America discusses the corruption of an artist when he has the chance for commercial appeal and corruption of government when capitalism is involved.[8] When speaking about the single with Billboard Cole said,
"I’m gonna try to use it to shift culture just a little bit. To me, 'Miss America' shifts things a little bit, it changes the conversation it takes it in a more aggressive direction, more raw, more social commentary... Any type of commentary is good compared to what a normal single is these days. That’s my aim, is to shift culture slightly, change the conversation. Nobody expects that for your first single."[9]
Chart performance
editThe song first charted on the week of December 1, 2012, on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at No. 34.[10]
Charts
edit| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[11] | 20 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[12] | 34 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States[13] | November 13, 2012 | digital download | Roc Nation, Columbia Records |
References
edit- ^ J. Cole Promises Born Sinner Album With Altar Boy's Help - Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV.com
- ^ J. Cole – Miss America (Trailer) | The Masked Gorilla
- ^ "J. Cole "Miss America" Single Cover Art | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX". Archived from the original on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ^ J. Cole Defends Crown on 'Miss America' Track: Listen | Billboard
- ^ J. Cole Talks "Miss America" and Sophomore Album Born Sinner - XXL
- ^ "J. Cole - Miss America | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2011 | HipHop DX". Archived from the original on 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ^ Rap-Up.com || New Music: J. Cole – ‘Miss America Reprise’
- ^ J. Cole Explains "Miss America" Single, Album May Be Delayed | HotNewHipHop
- ^ AMAs 2012: Watch Red Carpet Videos With J. Cole, Linkin Park + More | Billboard
- ^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/j.-cole/chart-history/r%26b/hip-hop-songs
- ^ "J. Cole Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "J. Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ iTunes - Music - Miss America - Single by J Cole