J. Cole recently released a new audio series titled “Inevitable,” which provides an in-depth look into his life and career. In the first episode, aired on Monday (18), the North Carolina rapper discussed how Kanye West significantly influenced his music and perspective.
Before Kanye West’s emergence, Cole struggled to connect his own life experiences with the narratives of his favorite rappers. He felt disconnected from the gangster lifestyle and the extravagant experiences often portrayed in hip-hop music.
“My life was hella regular, I didn’t sell no drugs… It was nothing like my favorite rappers. It was nothing like Jay-Z’s life look like, it wasn’t nothing like f*cking Pac’s life appeared to be. It wasn’t nothing gangster about it. So, I had a hard time seeing myself as somebody… I didn’t know how to talk about MY life in a way that people could connect with or even I could,” Cole revealed.
However, Kanye West’s groundbreaking debut single, “Through the Wire,” released in 2002, changed everything for Cole.
“In the summer 2003 before I went to college, the ‘Through The Wire’ video dropped and that sh*t changed my life first of all, and then I became a massive Kanye fan,” Cole explained. “Kanye was the first time I saw myself in somebody… He just made it possible to talk about your life or regular perspectives in a way that’s appealing.”
“This n*gga became my favorite artist, at that point. He kinda cracked my mind open.
Despite Kanye West’s significant impact on his career, Cole has also expressed criticism of the rapper. In his 2016 song “False Prophets.”
Kanye West released “Through the Wire” in 2002, just weeks after a near-fatal car accident that left his jaw wired shut. Despite his injuries, the single became a breakthrough hit, peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy nomination.
Listen to the audio below.
J. Cole on how Kanye’s music changed his life & helped influence his rapping 👀
— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) November 19, 2024
“My life was hella regular… It was nothing like my favorite rappers, I didn’t know how to talk about MY life. And then, f***ing Kanye West happened.”
“The ‘Through The Wire’ video dropped and that… pic.twitter.com/ptFyZzUKyy