’11 Worst Singles: #4 J.Cole “Work Out”

Friday, January 13 2012 4:00 PM EST | Posted by: B.Dot | Posted in: Album Reviews, Blog

A couple of days ago, J.Cole added platinum producer to his resume. But just because a song is a hit, doesn’t mean it’s actually good. Many would agree, this was The Sideline’s Story’s weakest moment. The Downy soft chorus combined with Paula Abdul’s ’80s staple was just too much to bear. Radio loved it. We didn’t. RIAA wins again.

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Comments (75)

  1. [...] source: Click to read full story. Rap Radar 'Out, J.Cole, Singles, Work, Worst, ’11 [...]

  2. truth says:

    songs a fuckin jam, wtf

  3. raffi says:

    u realize this was a bonus single

  4. TVA says:

    I never hated this record as much as everyone else seemed to. After the album came out it was clear Can’t Get Enough, In The Morning and Nobody’s Perfect were the club singles and therefore should have been the records to run with single wise. Of course Work Out didn’t catch until Can’t Get Enough was deep in rotation funny enough.

  5. HOVA says:

    I give RR props for this. This single was formed out of a hit record that had been released not to long ago by a hitmaker and J Cole uses the same concepts and everything.

  6. Young Cece says:

    Wtf?! Cole knew exactly what to do to make a hit single. I think this song was extremely catchy and clever, major radio play. Cole world!

  7. Mdot85 says:

    Love Rap Radar but yall niggas is buggin, this wasnt even a whack song let alone one of the wackest of the year. It was smooth and as a single did what it was suppose to do. Cmon son you just TRYING to piss pple off one, you tellin me that only one slot separates this song from Gucci Gucci? Nah

  8. Swiss163 says:

    GoodOne……..

  9. fuk waka says:

    really??? i dont see whats so bad about this song ??
    is this how u guys tryna show u aint biased?

  10. Hip Hop Essence says:

    Fucking bullshit! They song went ahead to grow up on people and you can’t deny that. That’s why it had the success. Now talking about hits that don’t make sense, what do you have to say about Ross’s “BMF”. The fuck is that song about? Lies lies and lies yet again! So stfu like you guys get to post whatever you feel like. Hate on the COLE, it aint gon make him or break him, he made it! Its the ROC bitches(rap radar)

  11. T.O. says:

    i agree lol this song sucks

  12. DOZEZ says:

    nahhh i fuck wit work out foh

  13. Matt says:

    Truth hurts. Good album, terrible song.

  14. TROLLiver says:

    “we didn’t it”

  15. M.T says:

    im glad this was a bonus because it would’ve disrupted the flow of the album. I thought the song was alright but not up to cole lyrical abilities. Thats why “Cant Get Enough” was a better choice. Nonetheless this single was good for the radio,went platinum and brought him a wider audience. “play the game to change the game” .

  16. TheReal says:

    You fukks have this on the worst list but have can’t get enough and lotus flower bomb on the best list

  17. Word says:

    Whoa. This was unexpected. I still fucks with it. And its still Platinum. So, I dont really care much.

  18. get bucks says:

    This list should be renamed the Worst HIT Singles of 2011… I cringed when I heard J. Cole do his rendition of Paula Abdul, but the song eventually grew on me and the chick in the video made it hotter.

  19. GI JOE says:

    Way beyond wack. Radio crammed this in folks heads until they “liked” it.

  20. JT says:

    Agreed, this song was horrible. A contrived attempt to gain mainstream appeal, which J Cole eventually accomplished with this single.

  21. vincent says:

    wow suprised RR didnt dick slurp this garbage up….props

  22. Word says:

    …..I dont think there were only 3 songs worse than this though. I could name a dozen songs worse than this in 2011. Most of ‘em were on yall “Best Of..” list. Spend It for example.

  23. Citylivin' says:

    the Cole slander is epic today…

  24. Post no billz says:

    I thought it was dope.. took bout 4 or 5 months for it to catch fire on radio.. it seems like all his teeny bopper fans came frm this single

  25. Andreas says:

    Are you kidding?? there is nothing wrong with this single, just that it is good

  26. NYC says:

    but he sold a million, u need more people to believe it was the 4th worse !

  27. Hip-Hop fiend says:

    To put J. Cole in the same list as Kreyshawn is disrespectful. Pop Radar is the worst site of 2011.

  28. Swiss163 says:

    @Citylivin I one thousand % agree

    but they going to learn today -___-

  29. dmfslimm says:

    damn thats fucked up. work out is nice. then you can bang it at a bbq or party.

  30. Word says:

    RR cant have a list without SOME type of controversy. These things are meant to draw traffic from users. This like last year when they gave TI worst single and album and everybody was bugging. Its understandable. I consider it a business move. RR fucks with Cole HEAVY. This is just a curve ball to keep ppl interested in the list cuz honestly, the lists have been weak this year.

  31. Ice Motherfucking Mike says:

    When I see Ellliot, B.Dot, and Big Homie in the street I’m beating the fuck out of them.

  32. Ant says:

    First time I’ve heard it. Last time I’ll hear it.

  33. mrcapela says:

    B.Dot YOU FUCKING SUCK WITH YOUR HATE ON COLE….. #COLEWORLD ALL DAY

  34. the void says:

    ^^^ lol. please do. they soft anyway.

  35. jonnybizness says:

    Off the back of Fnl this was a disappointing first single but Cole had to get the mainstream and radio on his side to push the album so i can see where the logic in this came from.For me Bme single with Bruno Mars has to be No1 or Wayne’s how to love Now thats some Formulaic crap that does HipHop a disservice.

  36. firealarm says:

    How is this one of the WORST songs you could come up with RR?? This song wasn’t even technically on the album and it’s catchy as hell.

  37. mrcapela says:

    B.Dot YOU F*CKING S*CK FOR HATING ON WORK OUT #PLATWORLD #COLEWORLD ALL DAY

  38. rahrahrah says:

    Thank you. I got turned onto cole late with “who dat”, but when this drivel came out it was hard to tell people to check for this new artist.

  39. Kid says:

    It still went platnium !

  40. B.Boggz says:

    Somethin smells fishy. J. Cole on the worst single list and MMG on the best album list. Ross is that you?

  41. fat nigga says:

    It was wack,borin and gay

  42. navo says:

    so your saying gucci gucci was better than work out? fuck outta here

  43. LBDII says:

    I think the songs a banger, always knew it was going to be a hit. Plus lets be honest people were talking about how bad of an idea this was a single, a platinum single lately and gold album later its a Cole World.

  44. nyg718 says:

    u sound stupid. how is this not a good song?u niggas is cornballs any way tho

  45. Sweet Lady says:

    i love this song nice one bby j <3

  46. D!A!E! says:

    This song is dope! RapRadar, yall are dropping the ball this year on A LOT of shit…stop doing this if you can’t get it right….OMG!

  47. Fat Matt says:

    rr keepin it real… this shit is wack

  48. Smacked Timido says:

    -____-

  49. 2dopeboyz says:

    Cole fansss maddd but this shit is horrible. Cant get enough was dope as fuck tho

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