11 Things We Learned From J. Cole in Angie Martinez’s Interview

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Since its release a few weeks ago, J. Cole’s latest album K.O.D. has been the topic of discussion from social media platforms to the corner hangouts where cliques and block congregations convene. Recently the rapper who famously went double platinum with no features sat down with OG Hip-Hop radio personality Angie Martinez at producer Salaam Remi’s studio crib in Miami for a lengthy interview in which he opened up about several subjects.

Touching on topics such as his conversation with 2018 MAGA Kanye West to that rumored album with Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole clears the air on many things that people have been wondering about for quite some time.

Here are the 11 things we learned from J. Cole in Angie Martinez’s interview.

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1. Woosah

J. Cole says he likes to meditate before he takes the stage and perform a show and even meditated before his interview with Angie. He says he does it whenever he feels anxiety. J. Cole is just like us.

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Photo: YouTube

J. Cole outside Fox Sports Center for an appearance on 'New York Live'

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2. Refinement

J. Cole gave up drinking because he felt that he was indulging a bit too much. He knew he had a problem when he didn’t want to drink for one night and felt “the pull and the tug” inside of himself to get a drink. That’s when he knew it was time to make a change but does say he will have a drink or two to celebrate something or someone. He also likens that “pull” to his social media addiction and feeling the need to check his phone every chance he got. Guess that explains his sudden social media hiatus.

Source: NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 01: American hip-hop artist J. Cole performs at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 1, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images) Uploaded By Godspeed

3. Alter Ego

J. Cole admitted that his “kiLL Edward” alter ego was inspired by his ex-stepfather who’s relationship with his family he calls “unhealthy” but refuses to bash him because he doesn’t know why he was the way he was. He does say even though his stepfather did put hands on him and his family, he was cool with him and credits him with being the man that “sculpted” him.

Source: SACRAMENTO, CA – AUGUST 21: J. Cole performs during the Imagine Justice concert at Capitol Mall on August 21, 2017 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) Uploaded By Godspeed

4. Featuring Myself

The reason that Cole doesn’t have features on his album is because “I just don’t work like that.” Even though people point to that line “N*ggas ain’t worthy to be on my sh*t,” J says that lots of rappers are worthy but once a song is done, it’s done because “I said everything I wanted to say.” Can’t argue with that logic.

Source: PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 06: Rapper J. Cole performs onstage during the 2015 Budweiser Made in America Festival at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 6, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch)

5. Kendrick Lamar Collabo

As for that rumored J. Cole/Kendrick Lamar album, Cole says that a few years ago he and K. Dot got together and put together a couple of ideas but he wouldn’t call it an album. Though he doesn’t say it’ll never happen, he does say it won’t happen anytime soon. Well, so much for that.

6. Kanye West

Speaking about Kanye West, J. Cole says that Yeezy called him and right off the bat told him “I need you to hold me accountable. Keep me in check. Say whatever you got to say. I need that! I feed off that!” But had he known that Kanye was going to tweet about their convo then he might’ve thought twice about talking to him. He says that Ye talking about what he thought was their private conversation made him “feel a certain type of way” because he felt like people might’ve viewed him as a “culprit” and suspect that Cole was down with what Kanye was spewing. Obviously J. Cole doesn’t agree with Kanye’s MAGA point of view but is worried about the place he’s in right now.

Source: photo: YouTube screen capture

7. False Prophets

J. Cole says that though “False Prophets” wasn’t about Yeezus, one verse did apply to him. He says the song itself was written before Yeezy had a breakdown and that the message as a whole was about celebrity worship. He says it’s okay to be inspired by celebrities but when “it’s at an unhealthy level” that’s when J. Cole feels it’s problematic.

Source: J. Cole kicks off his ‘What Dreams May Come’ tour at the James L. Knight Center in Miami Featuring: J. Cole Where: Miami, FL, United States When: 10 Sep 2013 Credit: Johnny Louis/WENN.com Uploaded By Godspeed

8. F*ck Who?

The “F*ck J. Cole” chants have been going on for more than a year before Cole dropped “1985.” Wanting to get to the bottom of things, J. Cole went to a store out in LA where he felt that movement was based at and he learned that it was nothing more than a marketing ploy a.k.a. trolling. As for “F*ck J. Cole” rapper Lil Pump and everyone else that’s part of that marketing ploy, Cole says “I love them.” He actually meant that too saying “I really f*ck with they music.” J. Cole is a better man than us all.

9. Wishful Thinkin’

J. Cole feels that in a thousand years no one will be considered a celebrity because humanity will evolve spiritually. We think J. Cole’s being too optimistic about his outlook on society. Just sayin.’

Source: photo: Complex

10. Young Thug

Cole says that his decision to take Young Thug on tour raised a lot of eyebrows including his own sisters. He said even though he’s a lyricist and Thug’s a “mumble rapper,” he just thinks Thugger’s “dope” and an “innovator.”

11. Silver Screen Dreamin’

Having directed a few music videos, J. Cole says he does have aspirations of directing, writing and acting in movies. The Avengers do need help stopping Thanos by the way. Just sayin.’