Storytelling in Hip Hop is no easy feat, but North Carolina rapper J. Cole has somehow managed to make his mark as quite the lyrical storyteller. During a recent interview with NewMusicDirector.com, J. Cole spoke on his storytelling skills and revealed that his knack for storytelling came from a desire to be more creative with his music.
“I’ve always had a knack for stories. That’s why I gravitate to Nas so much and Tupac and Eminem…At 15 I think that’s when it switched like I wanted to say more, do more, be more creative,” J. Cole explained. “I felt limited basically and then in turn I realized that I couldn’t talk about the things my favorite rappers were talking about cause they was talking about selling drugs – never did it, robberies, or whatever was going on at the time that my favorite rappers was rapping about. I couldn’t do it. So then I realized I had to start being true to myself and telling my story.”
Before his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story was released, J. Cole had already toured with the likes of Rihanna and Jay-Z and interestingly enough he explained that touring helped him become a more confident artist.
“I’ve had so much touring experience before my album even dropped and what that did is it just built my confidence early,” said J. Cole. “So I’m going into my first album already feeling like a top level performer because I had the blessing of being able to tour so much. So I believe that the stage show is important for rap.”
Although J. Cole’s debut album was just released last month the rapper says he has plans on sticking around for quite some time.
“I really have aspirations to be around for a long time,” he revealed. “Four years from now my goal is to be on my fourth album, on my fifth album.”
RELATED: J. Cole Addresses Jay-Z Vs. Lil Wayne Beef, Says He’s Begun Work On Sophomore LP
This nigga is a young king. Before u know he will be taking Keyshia Cole from that stupid ass Boobie dude. Cole World or die u dick riding pussies eaters. lmfaoooooooo.
YCMB + Roc Nation bitches
gotta stop snapping his fingers
what??? no jay-z talk?
This man is a smart & talented artist. He knows what he’s doing with or without Jay-Z. I’m glad he didn’t talk about Jay, let the man spread his wings.
One of the greatest rappers of all time.
co sign
Talking about storytelling and not gonna mention Slick Rick? SMH
damn right man.. Nas (check), Eminem (check), Tupac (check).. what about Slick?
slick aint all that man.. style is diff in the lyrical sense
Instead of Nas acting in films, he should be making then, how dope would that be. NAS IS GOAT.
Don’t forget about Biggie, had some of the illest storytelling tracks ever – Somebody’s Gotta Die, I Got a Story to Tell, Miss U, Everyday Struggle, Warning.
I love it when u gimme heeeaad,i hate it when u gimme headache.
old
HEY GUYS IM AN UPCOMING RAPPER I KNOW YALL SEE THIS SHIT ALL THE TIME AND ARE PROLLY LIKE NIGGA PLEASE BUT I WORK HARD AND WOULD APPRECIATE IF YALL CHECKED ME OUT AND I DONT MIND BAD CRITICISM YOUTUBE=lilkaz604
lights please gave me chills…. js
YAWNNN…… THIS YELLOW NIGGA’S MUSIC PUTS ME STRAIGHT TO SLEEP!!! COLE WORLD: THE SIDELINE STORY: THE CURE FOR INSOMNIA!!!! REAL TALK!!!! WAYNE’S THE BEST!!!
most important black men ever…
1) LIL WAYNE
2) Malcom X
3) MLK
4) Huey P Newton
5) Muhammad Ali
6) Michael Jordan
7) President Obama
8) Fredrick Douglass
9) Jackie Robinson
10) Jesse Owens
11) Tiger Woods
12) Chuck Berry
13) Robert L Johnson
14) Harriet Tubman
15) Booker T Washington
18) Spike Lee
19) Will Smith
20) Denzel Washington