Lion King On Ice

About this song

J. Cole reverts to his alter ego Young Simba on the track, with a colder and darker tone. Two days before the song's release, Cole published an essay titled "The Audacity" discussing how the need to prove himself drove him when he first began rapping. The song was initially released as one of two singles from The Fall Off, alongside "The Climb Back," under the name Lewis Street.

What it's about

The song draws on Cole's come-up and his upbringing in Fayetteville, where he was not always sure he would see the next day. It reflects on career challenges and the realization that fame and wealth have not erased the trauma of his past.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 1 other song, like “2020 Vision by Reem Da Illist”.
• Written and produced by J. Cole, T-Minus and jetsonmade.