Kevin's Heart
{{about|the song|the comedian|Kevin Hart}}
{{short description|Song by American rapper J. Cole}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Kevin's Heart
| cover =
| alt =
| type =
| artist = J. Cole
| album = KOD
| released = April 20, 2018
| recorded = 2017
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=20}}
| label = {{hlist|Dreamville|Roc Nation|Interscope}}
| writer = {{hlist|Cole|Tyler Williams|Mark Pellizzer}}
| producer = *T-Minus
| misc = {{External music video|type=song|{{YouTube|ufynqs_COF4|"Kevin's Heart"}}}}
{{Audio sample
| type = song
| file = Kevin’s Heart.ogg
| description = "Kevin's Heart"
}}
}}
"Kevin's Heart" is a song by American rapper J. Cole, released on April 20, 2018 from his fifth studio album, KOD. It was written alongside producers T-Minus and Mark Pelli, making it the only track on the album not to be produced by Cole.{{cite web |title=KOD by J. Cole on iTunes |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/kod/1373858456 |access-date=April 20, 2018 |work=iTunes Store (US)}} The song’s title is a reference to American comedian Kevin Hart, who appears in the video as well.
Lyrical interpretation
Vice said the song "considers the thinking behind a man's unfaithfulness. The fact that the song goes its entirety without the offender once blaming his spouse for his actions is a serious "whew" moment. Here, Cole frames temptation as a habit that needs kicking." Billboard mentioned that "the song tells the tale of fighting off the urge to cheat."{{cite web|last1=Burney|first1=Lawrence|title=Your Opinions About J. Cole Are Probably Dumb|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/j-cole-kod-review-essay/|website=Vice|access-date=April 23, 2018|date=April 23, 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Augustin|first1=Camille|title=Kevin Hart Deals With Public Aftermath of His Infidelity in J. Cole's 'Kevin's Heart' Video|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8377019/kevin-hart-j-cole-kevins-heart-video|website=Billboard|date=April 24, 2018}}
Music video
On April 24, 2018, Cole released the music video for the song, "Kevin's Heart". The video features the song's namesake, American comedian Kevin Hart, and was directed by Cole and Scott Lazer.{{cite web|last1=Parizot|first1=Matthew|title=J. Cole Recruits Kevin Hart For The Aptly-Titled "Kevin's Heart" Video|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/j-cole-recruits-kevin-hart-for-the-aptly-titled-kevins-heart-video-new-video.43612.html|website=HotNewHipHop|access-date=April 24, 2018|date=April 24, 2018}}
Critical reception
Pitchfork called the song a standout saying "Cole uses the pint-sized comedian's very public infidelities to reflect on the challenge of monogamy: "My phone be blowing up/Temptations on my line/I stare at the screen a while before I press decline." Cole is most effective when he keeps things personal rather than turning up his nose at the choices of others."{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/j-cole-kod/|title=J. Cole: KOD Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|work=Pitchfork|access-date=April 24, 2018}}
Commercial performance
Upon its first week of release, "Kevin's Heart" debuted at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|last1=Trust|first1=Gary|title=Drake Leads Billboard Hot 100, Ariana Grande Arrives at No. 3 & J. Cole Collects Record Three Debuts in Top 10|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8412480/drake-nice-for-what-hot-100-number-one-ariana-grande-j-cole|website=Billboard|access-date=30 April 2018}} On July 29, 2020, "Kevin's Heart" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales of one million units in the United States.{{Cite web|title=Gold & Platinum|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|access-date=2020-07-22|website=RIAA|language=en-US}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2018) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|46|artist=J. Cole|song=Kevin's Heart|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 23, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadianhot100|16|artist=J Cole|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 30, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland3|38|artist=J. Cole|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 23, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|28|artist=J. Cole|song=Kevin's Heart|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 23, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Portugal|33|artist=J. Cole|song=Kevin's Heart|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 11, 2018}} |
| scope="row"| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=215&dfom=20180420|title=Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 17, 27 april 2018|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=May 3, 2018}}
| 8 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|8|artist=J Cole|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 30, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|5|artist=J Cole|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 30, 2018}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=2023|access-date=August 18, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|award=Gold|artist=J. Cole|title=Kevin's Heart|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|id=file_2022-05-13-15-04-29.pdf|access-date=23 May 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Silver|id=17573-4060-1|artist=J. Cole|title=Kevin's Heart|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|accessdate=October 20, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|artist=J. Cole|title=Kevin's Heart|relyear=2018|certyear=2023|accessdate=November 26, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{J. Cole songs}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by J. Cole
Category:Songs written by T-Minus (producer)
Category:Songs written by Mark "Pelli" Pellizzer
Category:Song recordings produced by T-Minus (record producer)