J. Cole caught my attention back in 2009 through his mixtapes.

Sure, “J Cole she knows” got him mainstream fame, but there’s so much more to him.

Born in North Carolina, Cole isn’t just another rapper.

He writes about his life in Fayetteville, his family problems, and the ups and downs of making it big.

What makes him special? He produces his own beats and isn’t afraid to show his vulnerability.

His honesty about self-doubt and personal struggles makes his music hit differently.

That’s why I believe he’s one of hip-hop’s most real artists.

About the Song

The song “She Knows” explores themes of infidelity and guilt, where J.

Cole narrates a story about a man’s affair while his girlfriend suspects but chooses to stay silent about his unfaithfulness.

She Knows Lyrics by J. Cole

Intro: J. Cole & Amber Coffman

She knows
She knows, ayy
Bad things happen to the people you love
And you find yourself praying up to Heaven above
But honestly I never had much sympathy
‘Cause those bad things, I always saw them coming for me
I’m gonna run, run away (Oh, I), run, run away, run away (Oh, I, I, I)
Run away and never come back (Well, alright)
Run, run away, run, run away (Oh, I), run away (Oh, I, I, I)
Show ’em that your color is black (Well, alright)

Verse 1: J. Cole

Damned if I do, damned if I don’t
You know I got a girl back home
You got a man, what you want? What you want?
What these bitches want from a nigga?
On some DMX shit, huh
I know them other niggas love tricking
On some BMX shit, but not me
Now I’m sure you done heard about me
A black star, Mos Def, Kweli
Good, so them bad hoes try me, they try me, huh
This is Martin Luther King in the club, getting dubs, huh
With a bad bitch in his ear, sayin’ that she down for whatever
In the back of his mind is Coretta

Chorus: J. Cole, J. Cole & Amber Coffman

And she knows, she knows
And I know she knows, and I know she knows
And deep down, she knows, she knows
And I know she knows, and I know she knows
Well, alright, oh, I, oh, I, I, I
I can’t be what you want from me, well, alright
Oh, I, oh, I, I, I
I can’t be what you want from me, well, alright

Verse 2: J. Cole

Damned if I do (Shit), damned if I don’t (Uh)
I’m passing up on bad hoes
Tryna be the man that she want, what she want?
What, what she want from a nigga?
To put a ring on it, uh
Got a bitch on my dick right now
And she just want to sing on it, uh
Got me up so high, tryin’ get a piece of that apple pie, uh
I be up so high, tryin’ get a piece of that apple pie
Dancehall vibe with my pants on fire
‘Cause I told her I was sleep
‘Cause I creep with this pretty young thing that I cho’
‘Cause she could be doing the same thing, I suppo’

Chorus: J. Cole, J. Cole & Amber Coffman

And she knows, she knows
And I know she knows, and I know she knows
And deep down, she knows, she knows
And I know she knows, and I know she knows
Well, alright, oh, I, oh, I, I, I
I can’t be what you want from me, well, alright
Oh, I, oh, I, I, I
I can’t be what you want from me, well, alright

Verse 3: J. Cole

Niggas say, “Turn up,” hoes say, “Turn up”
Only bad thing ’bout a star is they burn up
Niggas say, “Turn up,” hoes say, “Turn up”
Only bad thing ’bout a star is they burn up
Rest in peace to Aaliyah
Rest in peace to Left Eye (Left Eye)
Michael Jackson, I’ll see ya
Just as soon as I die (I die)

Bridge: J. Cole

Got me up so high
Tryin’ get a piece of that apple pie, uh
I be up so high
Tryin’ get a piece of that apple pie
Got me up so high
Tryin’ get a piece of that apple pie, uh
I be up so high
Tryin’ get a piece of that apple pie

Chorus: J. Cole & Amber Coffman

Well, alright, oh, I, oh, I, I, I
I can’t be what you want from me, well, alright
Oh, I, oh, I, I, I
I can’t be what you want from me, well, alright

Outro: Amber Coffman

Run away, run away—, back (Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh)
Run away, run away—, back (Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh)
Run away, run away—, back (Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh)
Run away, run away—, back (Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh)

Live Performances of the Song

She Knows (Live on Letterman)

Similar Songs as She Knows by J. Cole

• Love Yourz – Carries similar introspective elements, discussing life’s struggles and relationships with raw honesty
• Power Trip – Explores complex relationship dynamics and emotional vulnerability, featuring similar melodic production
• Kevin’s Heart – Tackles themes of infidelity and internal conflict, with comparable narrative storytelling
• Lost Ones – Shares the emotional depth and relationship complexity, told through detailed storytelling
• Wet Dreamz – Uses personal narrative style similar to “She Knows,” though focusing on teenage experiences
• Changes – Features similar production elements and explores relationship dynamics with deep reflection
• Is She Gon Pop – Explores similar themes about relationship suspicion and trust issues
• Too Deep for the Intro – Matches the emotional intensity and storytelling approach about personal relationships
• 4 Your Eyez Only – While longer, it shares the same honest narrative style about complex relationships

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the song perform commercially?

“She Knows” peaked at #90 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart week ending February 8, 2014. The song charted for 5 weeks.

What did J. Cole say about “She Knows”?

This song is all about temptation. A lot of the album is about temptation. [The track] is very big [and] the beat is crazy. It is the best beat on the album.