In an interview with Complex, Cole spoke about the concept of the album:
That’s exactly what it is. It’s crazy that I chose to record it in Hollywood because it’s such a “fuck Hollywood” album. Being out there maybe contributed to [me thinking], “I’m bugging. There’s some shit that’s way more important than how many albums I sell and if I’m the best.”
On March 31st, 2015, it became the first hip-hop album in 25 years to be certified platinum without any features.