For Whom the Bell Tolls (J. Cole song)

For Whom the Bell Tolls is a song by American rapper J.Cole from his album 4 Your Eyez Only (2018). It was written by Cole; while its production was done by Elijah Scarlett and Cole himself. It contains an interpolation from "DIVINE", written by Aknostra and Tiad Hilm, as performed by Tiad Hilm.

The song was recorded at the Sheltuh in North Carolina and Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Commercially, the song peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 In the United States, it has topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, and reached the top 30 in 20 in other countries.

Background[]

The title of the song references 1940's novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Ernest Hemingway,^[1] the novel tells the story of Robert Jordan, a young American engaged in guerrilla warfare during the Spanish Civil War. He is assigned to blow up a bridge during an attack, the novel centers on the idea of death and suicide.^[2] "For Whom the Bell Tolls" also features background vocals from Kay Foxx.^[3]

Commercial performance[]

Upon its first week of release, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" debuted at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100,^[4] and at number 13 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[5] Outside the United States, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" reached the top 30 in Canada, the top 20 in the United Kingdom.^[6][7]

Charts[]

Personnel[]

• J.Cole – lead vocals, additional production
• Elijah Scarlett – Production
• Juro “Mez” Davis – Recording Engineer
• Kay Foxx – Background Vocals
• Gosha Usov – Assistant Engineers
• Beatriz Artola – Assistant Engineers
• CharGaux – String Arrangement
• Nico Segal – Horn Arrangement
• Anthony Ware – Additional Horns
• Theo Croker – Additional Horns
• Nate Fox – Additional Musical Arrangement
• Peter Cottontale – Additional Musical Arrangement

References[]