Written by Cherrelle Johnson

JP Cooper has been making a name for himself since his debut in 2012. People classify him as a folk, pop, and R&B singer, although he’s not afraid to blend gospel and R&B elements into the mix.

Four years after the release of his last album, She, the singer is back with his latest album, Just A Few Folk. The fourteen songs find JP Cooper sharing personal, vulnerable moments about his family, relationships, and life experiences.

Tracklist:

“Intro”
“Waiting On A Blue Sky”
“Diamonds and Gold”
“Grandparents”
“Yes”
“Summer Of Love”
“Sad Song”
“Something Like This”
“Just A Few Folk”
“One Silver Bullet, One Revolver”
“Nothing Ever Changes”
“You Give Me Life”
“The Greatest Story Never Told”
“Sad Song” (feat. Gabrielle)

Intro

JP Cooper starts Just A Few Folk off with “Intro.” It’s a 55-second, soft and soothing instrumental track that helps set the tone for the album.

Waiting On A Blue Sky

“Why don't we dance in the rain

While we're waiting on a blue sky?”

Everyone faces inner and external battles. Sometimes it can feel like no one will ever understand or that things won’t get better. The first song on JP Cooper’s Just A Few Folk, “Waiting On A Blue Sky,” touches on having to deal with challenges that find their way into one’s life. The song explores themes of hope, support, and resilience. The song is about how the world, both externally and internally, can be overwhelming to people. Sometimes, if not always, it can make people feel isolated.

JP doesn’t tell people things will get better; instead, he tells them to take their fears head-on and embrace the challenges that come their way. He’s not giving people promises that could potentially be broken. JP Cooper wants everyone to embrace things for what they are while waiting for everything to get better, even if it doesn’t get better right away.

He sings, “Meet me in the pouring rain, I'll show you how to dance again,” letting listeners know that he’ll help them through the bad times. JP will also help them try to take their mind off what they’re going through. The song has a soft and slightly dreamy vibe. “Waiting On A Blue Sky” was the perfect way to kick off an album. Everyone can use a song that lifts them up.

A playlist about hope or resilience would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/BpVCN0huveI?si=azxnSHAt9onV2FoO

Diamonds And Gold

“Diamonds and gold ain't nothing beside you

Nothing at all, oh, you're my fortune”

We all want to find someone who appreciates our inner and outer beauty. Additionally, we want to find someone whose beauty we can equally appreciate and admire. “Diamonds And Gold” is about JP Cooper finding someone who makes everything worthwhile. The song explores themes of inner beauty, love, and connection. JP Cooper sings about how he doesn’t care about materialistic things when it comes to his wife. Instead, what truly matters is their inner beauty.

Diamonds and gold don’t compare to his wife, and she means more to him than wealth. He thinks they shine bright without trying. It’s a tender and intimate song that beautifully captures how much someone’s inner beauty matters more than anything else in the world.

A playlist about appreciation or worth would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/IjUrRpdoI3A?si=ufdNH7eK4WJTLeSc

Grandparents

“I thought love was supposed to be blind

But these days, we choose with our eyes”

Everyone wants to experience love that lasts a lifetime, not for a season. JP Cooper isn’t any different. He knows what he wants. The third song on Just A Few Folk, “Grandparents,” is about how he wants to experience the type of love his grandparents had. The song explores themes of true love, longevity, and commitment. JP Cooper acknowledges that some people find connections with others, but they tend to last for a small period of time.

He rejects the idea of modern-day love. He wants something that lasts forever. The singer wants to be able to look back at the love he has when he gets old. He notes, “Yeah, we're more than disposable hearts,” as a way to call out how a majority of his peers and younger people treat others’ hearts as if they mean nothing. It’s a reflective and relatable song for people who wish they could find something real and meaningful.

A playlist about affection or relationships would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/ahdTRze_mSY?si=fxEEJx9x0U5IbvwG

Yes

“When you ask me, "Is a promise just for now?"

And I answer, "Did I ever let you down?”

If you’re looking for a song that gives you wedding vibes, “Yes” is that song. The song explores themes of devotion, promises, and true love. JP Cooper finds himself wanting to spend the rest of his life with his partner. He lets them know that no matter what they go through, he’s going to be there for them forever.

The song will make you feel as if you’re in someone’s church with the sound of a choir coming in to help him sing the song. The chorus of “Yes” is catchy with JP Cooper singing, “Yes, I do,” which is the main reason why this song oozes wedding vibes. Another reason is on the bridge, where JP repeatedly lets his partner know he’s going to be around for them forever. It’s a great follow-up song to “Grandparents.” Overall, it’s a beautiful and intimate ballad.

A playlist about weddings or romance would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/lN7BOI9Ii_s?si=XjCI_-ZKiGB-5AxQ

Summer Of Love

“You can be my little honeybee

Flowers and coffee, and blue jeans”

The summer season can be different things to different people. One of the most common things that happens to people is finding a summer fling or love. In “Summer Of Love,” JP Cooper knows what the feeling is like. The song explores themes of summer love, chemistry, or romance. “Summer Of Love” finds JP finding himself in the midst of getting into a summer fling. He didn’t think it would be anything more than a fling.

The singer wanted it to be a slow burn, and while it was, it turned from a fling to a summer love. He doesn’t want to acknowledge the fact that what they have is a summer love. He wants to just enjoy what he and the other person have going on between them. There are moments he doubts everything, but despite his doubts, he feels the chemistry the two of them have with one another. The laid-back song perfectly captures what it’s like to be caught in the midst of a summer fling or love.

A playlist about summer, flings, or summer love would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/tIHDQ6aCH1E?si=TBbYk0uctfO8YoRZ

Sad Song

“Stop trying, you and I know tears don't work no more

What are you waiting for?”

Not all relationships are worth fighting for. Sometimes, you want to turn to look at the person from your past and tell them to write a song about it. Or maybe that’s just me. JP Cooper isn’t shy about telling an ex exactly how he feels when it comes to things in “Sad Song.” The song explores themes of heartbreak, acceptance, and letting go. “Sad Song” finds JP Cooper returning to his life after they broke up. While they seem to want to fix whatever caused their breakup, he’s not trying to hear them out, nor is he about to waste his time believing whatever they may have to say to him.

He’s over it. He’s found acceptance in the fact that they’re no longer together and wants to move past everything. While he could be petty or dismissive, he tells them to heal through finding a sad song and doing something with it. JP doesn’t need them, nor does he need them to be his savior. He’s good with where he’s at. He can save himself. The somberness of the song truly conveys the impact of the lyrics being sung.

A playlist about closure or healing would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/6MugDgmkL5I?si=iimEcQez7QTJkSLq

Something Like This

“If somebody told me that I could dream the boldest

I think I'd hope for something like this”

Losing a family member can be difficult, but it can be even harder to lose a parent. JP sings about how it was to lose his mom at a very young age in “Something Like This.” The song explores themes of loss, resilience, and growth. “Something Like This” finds JP remembering the little time he had with his mom and the outcome of losing his mom as a toddler. He acknowledges that it was hard, but his family managed to get by the best way they could.

As a dad himself, he has moments where he wishes he could go back and talk to his younger self. He wants his younger self to know things are going to be okay. It might seem like he no longer talks about his mom in the song, but he returns to singing about her, mentioning how he once saw her apparition having fun in the kitchen. Throughout the song, he sings the words “Something Like This,” sometimes noting something that he never thought would happen and sometimes something he wishes could happen.

It should be noted that the song starts and ends the same way, with the singer singing, “I was born 6 pounds, 9 ounces, cold November morning.” The lyrics are heavy as they paint a vivid picture of how small and little he was when he lost his mom. The vulnerable song lets us in on how far he’s come in the world and how, despite losing his mom, he’s gotten through a lot of hardships.

A playlist about hardships or loss would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/2E9uKsfx--g?si=UPWG2dHKl3xTZk_t

Just A Few Folk

“There were bumps in the road and the road was long

I don't need the whole world singing my song”

Everyone has a dream, whether it’s being a doctor, a content creator, a writer, or a singer. Most people chase their dreams the moment they realize what they’re destined to be. JP Cooper knows exactly what it’s like to follow his dreams and talks about it in “Just A Few Folk.” The song explores themes of dreams, ambition, and persistence. “Just A Few Folk” finds JP singing about how he found a dream of making music as a teen and started chasing that dream.

He was inexperienced and faced challenges. While some give up or put their dreams on hold, he continued to show up and work on his craft. He’s come a long way from being a teen to an adult and embracing his dreams of creating music. JP Cooper’s grateful that he stuck it out. At the end of the day, he doesn’t care about crowds or the world knowing who he is. A few folk knowing who he is is enough for him. People gave him hope, and sharing his journey gives others hope that they, too, can achieve their dreams.

As someone who has big dreams, “Just A Few Folk” is automatically my number one favorite off the album. It’s soulful and high-energy, and the optimistic vibes are what’s needed for someone who knows their purpose.

A playlist about purpose or dreams would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/q61ls2V5qGI?si=cClZcqK0_5k-TZFK

One Silver Bullet, One Revolver

“My heart is in my mouth, so I can't speak

It tastes a little bitter what once was sweet”

It can be hard to let go of someone you’re in love with when everything was going beautifully. It can also be hard to believe when someone’s ready to walk out of your life. The tenth song on JP Cooper’s Just A Few Folk, “One Silver Bullet, One Revolver,” sees both sides of that. The song explores themes of heartbreak, denial, and young love. “One Silver Bullet, One Revolver” explores what it’s like to be in a young love. One thinks that everything is going great, and they’re going to be with someone forever. Instead of forever, they’re met with the other person wanting to end things.

JP Cooper is in denial about the other person wanting to leave him. He wants to fight for their relationship and wants them to stay. However, he can’t find a way to say it out loud. Them springing a heartbreak on him feels like “One Silver Bullet, One Revolver” to his heart. It’s that painful for him to deal with. It’s what a lot of people might feel when they’re deeply invested in a relationship. The beat stays rhythmic and steady throughout the song, allowing listeners to fully feel the pain behind the song.

A playlist about romantic loss or young love would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/ds3Z_mYcYwY?si=pOpRIRienPjiJgZ0

Nothing Ever Changes

“I said I'd take you anywhere

I never made it out of there”

Some things change while others stay the same. JP Cooper finds himself thinking about how nothing changes in “Nothing Ever Changes.” The song explores themes of stagnation, longing, and nostalgia. In “Nothing Ever Changes,” JP finds himself thinking about an ex who moved away to start a new life in another city. While they left, he’s still living in the city. For him, at least in his eyes, nothing about the city or him has changed. He goes deeper than that, singing about how things feel different because they’re not around.

JP Cooper wants the other person to return to be part of his life, like they said they would. He’s curious if they think about him as much as he thinks about them. Right now, all he has are the memories that they shared to get him through the days. It’s a beautifully done acoustic song that relies on a guitar, clapping, and vocals.

A playlist about lost love and longing would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/a-eWoF2ALp0?si=14VrF6AqTVeI7Qso

You Give Me Life

“Oh, you're all that I wanted

You're all that I need”

Finding your person, that special someone who makes everything worthwhile in the world, can be exhilarating. JP Cooper’s “You Give Me Life” is about how he feels when it comes to the person who gives him life. The song explores themes of gratitude, love, and support. “Give Me Life” showcases JP expressing his appreciation for his wife. She's done so much for him. She’s the reason he's able to get through life. The beautiful ballad could be said to be a love letter to the love of his life. With everything that she gives him, including life, he wants to give her all of himself. It’s what she deserves in his eyes. One thing I love seeing, or rather hearing in music, is how much an artist’s significant other means to them. The song, while short, gives me exactly that.

A playlist about appreciation or commitment would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/KOpYMD1p6cY?si=JD7J6jKcp-BiZC5j

The Greatest Story Never Told

The thirteenth song on JP Cooper’s Just A Few Folk is “The Greatest Story Never Told.” The song explores themes of chemistry, love, and connection. JP finds himself talking about the love story he shares with his wife. He doesn’t think their story will get told to others because what they have is too hard to put into words. They share something special and intimate that they would rather keep private and to themselves. He loves the type of love they have, which is why he thinks their love is “The Greatest Story Never Told.” While it doesn’t serve as the last song on the album, it would be the perfect closure to the album.

A playlist about devotion or intimacy would suit this song well.

https://youtu.be/exF0-1agThw?si=ApPdb-bJ6xlNpLc-

Sad Song ft. Gabrielle

The final song on the album is a duet version of “Sad Song” featuring Gabrielle. Gabrielle’s vocals on this version of “Sad Song” blend perfectly with JP Cooper’s. While I feel like it could’ve been a standalone single, I can understand why he would probably want to include it on the album last. It fits with the initial vibe of the album.

https://youtu.be/NpYyFYScZZ8?si=eb5wzXqgF5i8DpJg

I can’t begin to explain how long I’ve been a JP Cooper fan, but I’ve been a fan for a few years now. Just A Few Folk is a different vibe from his albums Raised Under Grey Skies and She. The album feels soulful, intimate, and private all wrapped into one. If I had to choose my favorites from the album, I would say “Waiting On A Blue Sky,” “Just A Few Folk,” and “One Silver Bullet, One Revolver.”