No Role Modelz

"No Role Modelz" is a song by American rapper and record producer J. Cole. It was released through Dreamville Records, Roc Nation, Columbia Records, and Vinyl Crown as the third single from his third studio album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, on August 4, 2015. The song was produced by Phonix Beats with additional production from Cole, and interpolates "Don't Save Her" by Project Pat.^[3][4] The song has been referred as one of J. Cole's biggest songs.

"No Role Modelz"
Single by J. Cole
from the album 2014 Forest Hills Drive
Released	December 9, 2014[1][2]
Recorded	2014
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:53
Label	Dreamville Roc Nation Columbia Vinyl Crown
Songwriter(s)	Jermaine Cole Kurtis Figueroa Darius Barnes M. Whitemon Paul Beauregard Saint Cassius Jordan Houston Tenina Stevens Earl Stevens D. Stevens B. Jones
Producer(s)	Phonix Beats
J. Cole singles chronology
"No Sleeep" (2015) "No Role Modelz" (2015) "Love Yourz" (2016)
Audio video
"No Role Modelz" on YouTube

The song received generally mixed reviews from critics. During the week of December 22, 2015, the song reached number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Cole his fourth top 40 hit as a solo artist and the highest-charting single from 2014 Forest Hills Drive. On May 20, 2016, the single was officially certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making it the first song to do so without a music video.^[5] On December 10, 2024, the song was certified RIAA Diamond selling over 14 million copies, giving him his second and highest Diamond certification and is one of the best-selling digital singles of all-time.

Critical reception

"No Role Modelz" received mixed reviews from music critics. Craig Jenkins of Pitchfork wrote that "No Role Modelz" parlays a suspicion about a hook-up being a golddigger into a tirade about reality TV women lacking respectable public figures crudely suggesting that "she's shallow but the pussy deep." Jenkins wrote 2014 Forest Hills Drive often plays at a depth it never delivers."^[6] Billboard called the song "one of the decade’s great Rap Internet tropes", adding to their list of the 100 songs that defined the 2010s.^[7]

Charts

Weekly charts 2015–2016 weekly chart performance for "No Role Modelz" Chart (2015–2016) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] 62 US Billboard Hot 100[9] 36 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] 27 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[11] 14 2020–2023 weekly chart performance for "No Role Modelz" Chart (2020–2023) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[12] 40 Global 200 (Billboard)[13] 97 Iceland (Tónlistinn)[14] 32 Latvia (LAIPA)[15] 13 Lithuania (AGATA)[16] 50 Netherlands (Single Tip)[17] 13 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 22 Portugal (AFP)[19] 114 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[20] 85 South Africa (RISA)[21] 67 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 19 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23] 20 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[24] 23

Year-end charts 2021 year-end chart performance for "No Role Modelz" Chart (2021) Position Australia (ARIA)[25] 89 Portugal (AFP)[26] 178 2022 year-end chart performance for "No Role Modelz" Chart (2022) Position Australia (ARIA)[27] 41 Global 200 (Billboard)[28] 97 Lithuania (AGATA)[29] 70 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 23 2023 year-end chart performance for "No Role Modelz" Chart (2023) Position Australia (ARIA)[31] 44 Global 200 (Billboard)[32] 91 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 22 2024 year-end chart performance for "No Role Modelz" Chart (2024) Position Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[34] 23 Global 200 (Billboard)[35] 199

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[36]

• J. Cole – vocals, production, songwriting

• Darius "Phonix Beats" Barnes – production, songwriting
• Mark Pitts – production
• Brandt Jones – songwriting
• Danell Stevens – songwriting
• Darius Barnes – songwriting
• Earl Stevens – songwriting
• Jordan Houston – songwriting
• Marvin Whitenerom – songwriting
• Paul Beauregard – songwriting
• Tenina Stevens – songwriting
• Kaye Fox – additional vocals, associated performer
• Sean Kellett – assistant recording engineering, studio personnel
• Brian Gardner – mastering
• Juro "Mez" Davis – mixing, recording engineering

Certifications

Certifications for "No Role Modelz"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[37]	6× Platinum	420,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[38]	Gold	30,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[39]	Platinum	90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[40]	Gold	200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[41]	Platinum	100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[42]	10× Platinum	300,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[43]	4× Platinum	40,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[44]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[45]	3× Platinum	1,800,000‡
United States (RIAA)[46]	14× Platinum	14,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[47]	Platinum	2,000,000†
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of best-selling singles in the United States