S. Samuel
Roc Nation rapper J. Cole has shared his reaction to gaining Jay Electronica as a labelmate, as his boss Jay-Z publicly announcing the signing a couple days ago.
Remaning brief, Cole said Jay’s latest acquisition strengthened the company’s image.
“It’s awesome,” Cole said about Electronica joining the roster. “I feel like we look like the Lakers right now over there at Roc Nation.” (Real Talk NY)
The announcement comes weeks after Jay signed producer/rapper Sean Garrett.
“I’m so misunderstood when it comes to the music man,” Garrett told VIBE less than 24 hours after announcing his signing to Roc Nation/Columbia. “I’m not afraid to say that I’m a true genius with my craft. This isn’t something I do for the money…I think I’m the modern-day Lionel Richie. I just want my fans to really know who I am and get to know me from the inside and out. You’ll be seeing a lot more of me on your TV–not just in music videos. Right now, it’s time to open myself up to the world…Roc Nation understands that my movement is way bigger than just my deal. The only thing that I could have asked for is an opportunity, and that’s what I was blessed with. Jay’s building a new Dynasty and it feels like family to me. No matter how much success I’ve had, I’m still humbled by the opportunity to still be creative and just be myself.” (VIBE)
Last month, Rihanna announced joining forces with Jay’s Roc Nation.
The singer announced Wednesday (October 20) that she will now be managed by mentor and former Def Jam exec Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company. The chart-ruling singer spilled the beans to The Associated Press, saying in a statement she’s “so excited to take this next step in my career.” The “Only Girl in the World” singer joins songstress Melanie Fiona, spitter Wale and DJ/producer Mark Ronson as other faces handled by the management arm of Hov’s multi-pronged firm. (MTV)
In September, Jay revealed ten year-old singer Willow Smith was signed to Roc Nation.
“First off, I heard the record first, before I knew that it was recorded by a nine year-old,” Jay said in an interview with radio host Ryan Seacrest speaking about “Whip My Hair.” “I was like, ‘Man, that record is a smash.’ — I went to Japan to do some stuff and they were out there and I met Willow and she walked in and the first thing she said was, ‘I’m really nervous,’ and I thought that maturity, explaining exactly how she was feeling as she was walking in the room, I knew right there she was a star. I believe in super stars and I believe in big records on super stars…Yes, [I signed her and we plan on helping her] facilitate all her ideas. As you’re going to learn today, if you sit with her for a half hour, you’ll see, she’s just a wealth of information and ideas…She’s a child, she has child innocence but she has a refreshing clear vision of what she wants to be…And I imagine that’s how Mike [Jackson] was as a kid.” (Rap Radar)
Check out J. Cole’s interview below:
