2018 song by J. Cole
"Motiv8 " (pronounced "motivate") is a song by American rapper J. Cole , released on April 20, 2018 from his fifth studio album , KOD .[ 2]
Composition and samples
The song contains an uncredited sample from "Knuck If You Buck ", performed by Crime Mob ;[ 3] and excerpts from "Get Money ", as written by Roy Ayers , James Bedford, Lamont Porter, Sylvia Striplin and Chris Wallace , and performed by Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Lyrical interpretation
HotNewHipHop said "another track that’s been getting a lot of attention lately is this song called “Motiv8.” [...] Cole hops on this self-produced beat and raps about being motivated to get the money, something he repeats throughout the song & chorus."[ 4]
Critical reception
Alexis Petridis of The Guardian said "Motiv8 revolves around little more than an eerie keyboard figure and a disembodied cry of “get money” from Lil Kim's guest appearance on the 1995 Junior MAFIA hit of the same title – ripped out of context, it sounds bleak and despairing."[ 5] KentWired said “Another song I feel like will be played on the radio a lot. Also, another favorite song of mine. This kind of reminds me of Kendrick Lamar’s “Levitate.” However, I love the beginning of this song where it has pretty much a video game sound effect to it.”[ 6]
The song was featured in the official 2018 NBA Playoffs (Eastern Conference Finals ) and the NBA Finals promotion for ESPN .
Upon its first week of release, "Motiv8" debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 .[ 7]
Charts
Certifications
References
^ "J. Cole Is After The Money On New "KOD" Song "Motiv8" " . HotNewHipHop . Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ "KOD by J. Cole on iTunes" . iTunes Store (US). Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ Glenn Schick (April 22, 2018). "Fun fact: The new @JColeNC #KOD album I mastered has a song called "Motiv8" it's got a sample from Crime Mob's "knuck if you buck" which I also mastered in 2003!" . Twitter . Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ "J. Cole Is After The Money On New "KOD" Song "Motiv8" " . HotNewHipHop . Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ Petridis, Alexis (April 20, 2018). "J Cole: KOD review – a brilliantly brooding antidote to hip-hop excess" . The Guardian . Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ "REVIEW: J. Cole's 'KOD' is a must-listen album with a powerful message" . KentWired . Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ Trust, Gary. "Drake Leads Billboard Hot 100, Ariana Grande Arrives at No. 3 & J. Cole Collects Record Three Debuts in Top 10" . Billboard . Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ "J. Cole – Photograph" . ARIA Top 50 Singles . Retrieved July 9, 2018.
^ "J Cole Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)" . Billboard . Retrieved July 9, 2018.
^ "IRMA – Irish Charts" . Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart" . Recorded Music NZ . April 30, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ "J. Cole – Photograph" . AFP Top 100 Singles . Retrieved July 9, 2018.
^ "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 17, 27 april 2018" . Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
^ "J Cole Chart History (Hot 100)" . Billboard . Retrieved July 9, 2018.
^ "J Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved July 9, 2018.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF) . Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved August 18, 2024 .
^ "American single certifications – J Cole – Motiv8" . Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 24, 2021 .
Studio albums Live albums Compilations Soundtrack albums EPs Mixtapes Singles Featured singles Other songs Concert tours Films Related articles