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J. Cole brings hard-hitting life lessons to Dallas during his 'KOD' performance

If there was a doubt that J. Cole didn't have what it takes to stay at the top of his platinum platform, 2018's KOD shattered those expectations. The release of the culturally contemplative record in April came as a surprise to fans and broke records for most first-day album streams on both Apple Music and Spotify.

Cole has spent his last two albums speaking out on turbulent topics like addiction, violence and racial inequality, and using his platform to educate fans. His Saturday night performance at American Airlines Center reflected his unwavering focus to leave fans better than they were when they came in.

In the midst of a set list that spanned his entire career, Cole spoke out about the many forms of addiction, temptation and the impossibility of overnight success. He explained the three meanings of KOD -- kids on drugs, king overdosed and kill our demons -- and how they fit together to become a narcotic odyssey. Quick-witted and passionate, the North Carolina native marched across the stage dropping potent verses with emphatic force in "A Tale of 2 Citiez". Backed by live instruments instead of tracks, Cole stood alone throughout his hour-and-a-half performance.

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Earlier this month, fans were treated with a fresh freestyle track from Cole, "Album of the Year (Freestyle)," touching on everything from drug dealers and battling inner demons to being the CEO of his own label, Dreamville. The single also gave a shout-out to Oak Cliff, a city Cole says he spent many summers in as a child. While he didn't perform the new song on Saturday, he did surprise residents of the South Dallas neighborhood with a visit to their annual "For Oak Cliff Back to School Festival" earlier that day.  He spent time talking to kids, taking pictures and showing support for students starting school.

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This dedication to today's youth is undeniable in Cole's music, public persona and actions. Even when he's calling out the "lil" rappers in the industry in "1985 -- Intro the 'Fall Off'", he's pushing them to want more and stay relevant after the trap trends fade away. Before "ATM," Cole admitted money might be the biggest addiction there is. He wrestles with the necessary evil in the single, preaching, "Can't take it when you die, but you can't live without it."

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Much of his set dwelled on the morality of today's entertainment industry and flipped the glorification of drugs, infidelity and wealth on its head. He complained about the negativity of temptation going into "Kevin's Heart," a song about the public exposition of Kevin Hart's infidelity in late 2017.

While most of the show and the audience matched his intensity with gut-punching beats and a chorus of voices, Cole quickly calmed the arena for "Love Yourz." The cautionary track emphasizes the importance of self-care and confidence in the midst of success, something he's admittedly had to learn throughout his rise to fame.

He ended with "No Role Modelz," one of his most-popular efforts to reinforce the need for sincere relationships in a world of shallow and short-lived flings. Again the song was met with an echoing symphony of voices as the venue roared to life.

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Impressively, his crowded verses were no match for fans -- they followed Cole's rapid fire pace with precision, chanting the lines without flinching. Their dedication to the artist was almost magical, and proved that his lyrical leadership isn't falling on deaf ears. In an unforgiving industry that focuses more on the here and now than longevity, J. Cole has claimed his place on the short list of elite hip-hop artists with timeless albums and a voice that refuses to be silenced.