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She Knows (J. Cole song)

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"She Knows"
SinglebyJ. ColefeaturingAmber CoffmanandCults
from the albumBorn Sinner
ReleasedOctober 30, 2013
Recorded2013
GenreHip hop
Length4:57
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Jermaine Cole
  • Madeline McKenna
  • Ryan Mattos
Producer(s)J. Cole
J. Colesingles chronology
"Forbidden Fruit"
(2013) 		"She Knows"
(2013) 		"Apparently"
(2014)
Amber Coffmansingles chronology
"Get Free"
(2012) 		"She Knows"
(2013) 		"All to Myself"
(2017)
Cultssingles chronology
"High Road"
(2014) 		"She Knows"
(2014)
Audio sample
Music video
"She Knows"onYouTube

"She Knows"is a song by American rapper and record producerJ. Cole,released on October 29, 2013, as the fourth single from his secondstudio album,Born Sinner.The song samples "Bad Things" byCultsand was produced by J. Cole.

Background and recording

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After hisGrammy Awardsnomination,[1]Cole revealed that he was working on another album withKendrick Lamar,[2]later revealed to beBorn Sinner.The album was delayed, before being released on June 18, 2013, a week earlier than the expected release date.[3]The song is produced by J. Cole himself and samples Cults "Bad Things".[4]

The lyrics represents Cole apologizing for cheating on his girlfriend, with a lack of sympathy by intending that "bad things were intended for him". He later expresses guilt about his seduction, ending the song.[5]

Music video

[edit]

On February 14, 2014, the accompanying video for "She Knows" was released on Cole'sVevochannel.[6]

The video was filmed inSouth Los Angeles,including Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Middle School and Pink Motel.[7]The music video was directed by Sam Pilling. The music video included appearances fromHarold PerrineauandRochelle Aytesacting as the parents.[8]The video follows a boy named Kyle who steals money from a drawer at home. Instead of going to school, he and his friend sneak into a private skate park. Eventually a police officer sees them and the two just barely manage to escape. Kyle returns home and to his shock, sees his mother cheating with another man (Cole). Kyle runs out of the house and his friend chases him to console him.[9]

Reception

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"She Knows" received generally mixed reviews. In a review forAllMusic,David Jeffries states: "It's snide, smart-ass stuff and when it comes to sublime/ridiculous balancing act that his heroes Jay-Z and Nas have mastered, Cole is a little short on the sublime side here to be considered classic."[10]However, American magazineXXLnamed the song repetitive.[11]

Controversy

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Ten years after its release, "She Knows" trended onTikTok,being featured in 230,000 videos.[8]The trend later deviated from regular activities to accusing rapperSean Combs(known under the stage name Diddy) of deaths related toAaliyah,Lisa Lopes,andMichael Jackson,referenced in the lyrics: "Only bad thing 'bout a star is they burn up / Rest in peace to Aaliyah / Rest in peace to Left Eye / Michael Jackson, I'll see ya / Just as soon as I die."Beyoncé,Jay-Z,[12]andR. Kelly[13]were also addressed in the controversy,[14]with allegations of their association with Diddy.[15]People also suggest that the song's name, "She Knows", is a play on Diddy's first name (Sean) and Beyoncé's last name (Knowles).[16]

On September 30, 2024, the song was removed fromYouTubeamid controversy betweenSESACand YouTube itself.[17][18]

Personnel

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Music

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Video

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  • Sam Pilling – director[8]
  • Harold Perrineau – actor[8]
  • Rochelle Aytes – actor[8]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
UK Singles(OCC)[19] 68
USBillboardHot 100[20] 90
USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs(Billboard)[21] 24
USRhythmic(Billboard)[22] 10
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Lithuania (AGATA)[23] 47

Year-end charts

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Chart (2014) Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] 98

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[25] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[26] Platinum 60,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[27] Gold 45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Platinum 600,000‡

‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^"J. Cole – Grew Up Fast | HIPHOP2DAY".Hip Hop 2DAY.April 5, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon April 5, 2012.RetrievedOctober 9,2024.
  2. ^"Kendrick Lamar Says Word Of Mouth Helped Album Sales, Refers To Shyne As Being A" Good Dude "".HipHopDX.November 19, 2012.RetrievedOctober 9,2024.
  3. ^Diep, Eric (December 21, 2016)."From Hometown Hero to Superstar Status: How High Can J. Cole Climb?".Billboard.RetrievedOctober 9,2024.
  4. ^abc"J. Cole" Born Sinner "Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist & Spotify Stream".June 17, 2013.
  5. ^"Makna Lagu She Knows oleh J Cole tentang Kisah Cinta Rumit".kumparan(in Indonesian).RetrievedOctober 10,2024.
  6. ^"J. Cole Gets Caught Cheating in New 'She Knows' Video".MTV.Archived fromthe originalon September 4, 2014.
  7. ^"J Cole ft Amber Coffman 'She Knows' by Sam Pilling | Videos".
  8. ^abcde"From J. Cole's She Knows to TikTok's New Favourite Soundtrack—A Decade Later, the Game Changes Again".Neon Music.September 25, 2024.RetrievedOctober 9,2024.
  9. ^"J. Cole Gets Caught Cheating in New 'She Knows' Video".MTV.Archived fromthe originalon September 4, 2014.
  10. ^Born Sinner - J. Cole | Album | AllMusic,retrievedOctober 10,2024
  11. ^nmbnmb (June 19, 2013)."J. Cole – 'Born Sinner' Album Review".XXL.RetrievedOctober 10,2024.
  12. ^purepeoplebr."Jay-Z encomendou a morte de Aaliyah? Detalhes, teorias da conspiração e mistérios em torno da tragédia que matou a estrela".Terra(in Brazilian Portuguese).RetrievedNovember 21,2024.
  13. ^"Morta em queda de avião, Aaliyah é ligada a teoria da conspiração com Diddy".UOL(in Brazilian Portuguese). October 2, 2024.RetrievedNovember 21,2024.
  14. ^"Cantora morta em queda de avião está envolvida em teoria da conspiração com Sean Diddy".ISTOÉ Independente(in Brazilian Portuguese). October 2, 2024.RetrievedNovember 21,2024.
  15. ^Art, Pop Culture & (September 29, 2024)."Internet suggests J. Cole's 'She Knows' links Aaliyah, Lisa Lopes, Michael Jackson deaths to Diddy".The Express Tribune.RetrievedNovember 21,2024.
  16. ^Art, Pop Culture & (September 30, 2024)."Fans react as J. Cole's 'She Knows' removed amid conspiracy: 'Doing this makes them look guilty'".The Express Tribune.RetrievedOctober 9,2024.
  17. ^"Videos By Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, And More Pulled From YouTube Amid SESAC Dispute".Yahoo Entertainment.September 30, 2024.RetrievedOctober 10,2024.
  18. ^"Why Did J. Cole's 'She Knows' Get Removed From YouTube?".UPROXX.September 30, 2024.RetrievedOctober 10,2024.
  19. ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  20. ^"J. Cole Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  21. ^"J. Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  22. ^"J. Cole Chart History (Rhythmic)".Billboard.Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  23. ^"2021 40-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)"(in Lithuanian).AGATA.October 8, 2021.RetrievedOctober 8,2021.
  24. ^"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014".Billboard.RetrievedOctober 1,2021.
  25. ^"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.RetrievedNovember 30,2023.
  26. ^"Brazilian single certifications – J. Cole – She Knows"(in Portuguese).Pro-Música Brasil.RetrievedJune 28,2024.
  27. ^"Danish single certifications – J. Cole feat. Amber Coffman & Cults – She Knows".IFPI Danmark.RetrievedMay 7,2024.
  28. ^"British single certifications – J Cole ft Amber Coffman/Cults – She Knows".British Phonographic Industry.RetrievedApril 19,2024.


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