S. Samuel
Roc Nation's J. Cole recently credited rap veterans Eminem and Canibus with inspiring his early rhymes.
Cole claimed he studied both emcees’ verses when he was younger.
“I don’t know if I’m on his radar yet, but I used to hang Eminem raps on my wall,” Cole revealed in an interview with DJ Whoo Kid. “I have people’s raps on my wall, but his raps and then Canibus’ raps were the only ones that could get close to the bed spread and when I’d first wake up and want to read some raps, they were always there…I think Em’s [written] raps be looking weird too…[A year from now], I’ll be a little richer, but I’ll still be the same. Yeah…I’m trying to stay the same or at least as close as possible. What did 50 [Cent] say? If you don’t change then you ain’t make enough? Or some crazy wild sh*t.” (Radio Planet TV)
Last March, Cole said he was also influenced by Nas and late rapper Tupac Shakur.
“The more lyrical rappers. I gravitate toward the classic and more lyrical rappers,” he explaind in an interview. “Sometimes when I’m in the studio we spend an hour on YouTube watching old rap and freestyle. For a while there it was really lyrical and witty and was always personalized. I’m drawn toward storytellers like Nas and Tupac. I’m realizing my own work in this day is generally not something that is out there. There is a lot of talent, but they just aren’t putting out what I am. The whole game is exciting but nobody in a long time has come out with the skills for lyrical writing that I am coming out with.” (Spinner)
Recently, Nas co-signed Cole as one of the artists falling under his radar.
“We love them, all of them,” Nas said referring to rap newcomers. “Jay Electronica, J. Cole, Drake, Nicki Minaj, everybody. We love them. They’re extended family right there. I think J. Cole is fire. I think Drake is fire too. Those are the next ones up, we just have to see have to see what they do, get to the plate and hold that bat up and knock it out the park.” (Rap-Up)
Little Brother‘s Big Pooh recently talked with SOHH about seeing a fellow North Carolina artist shine.
“I like J. Cole,” Pooh told SOHH, “I listen to some of his material and I was kinda late as far as checking him out or whatever, but I think he’s got a chance to really, really, make a mark and an imprint. It’s funny because I didn’t really think about it until I saw Drake say it in an interview but it’s almost like he’s right but it’s almost like Drake is taking the Jay-Z approach and Cole is like, taking the Nas approach on how they’re creating and I kinda see him almost in that mode. I just hope he comes out and he defines his own success and he don’t necessarily worry about putting North Carolina on his back but doing what’s best for J. Cole. If he do that, then North Carolina will be behind him.” (SOHH)
Check out J. Cole’s interview below:
That’s what happens when you re-release 3 mixtapes with only 3 new songs. And I don’t care that the songs are re-mastered. Nobody on here is listening to his music in a professional studio. (Them over priced Beats By Dre don’t count either) The Weeknd should have re-released those songs re-mastered and gave us at least 10 new songs if he wanted us to buy his new release. Bad idea and to me very lazy.
I don’t think u would’ve bought it then my man
He gave 3 Mixtapes for free, and not three shitty ones either. If you’ve listened to his music and bumped his shit, the least you can do is support the nigga.
Hey to be real honest….Thats not bad for a dude that released 3 FREE mixtapes and to only add 3 new songs….The Weeknd is an extremely talented artist who has a decent following considering he does not do press or interviews at all….But the thing ppl dont understand when these type of dudes have a cult following they can do tours off mixtapes alone. This dude been on tour for like the past year and a half…Same for Meek(not a Meek fan and Im from/live in Philly) Meeks been touring off of Dream Chaser mixtapes for the past year or so…In this day and age show money is where its at…If you got a following your good. The Weeknd sold out 2 NYC shows in a row so thats def where the $ at.