Kanye West has been credited by J. Cole with transforming his life and becoming a major influence on his music.
The Dreamville rapper discussed the significant influence Kanye had on him while he was still developing his craft in an interview with his new audio series Inevitable.
In addition to having bars, I was an aggressive battle rapper who told fantastical stories like “The Storm” that were entirely made up. “I had that, but my life was really pretty normal,” he remarked.
It wasn’t like my favorite rappers, and I didn’t sell any drugs. Both JAY-Z’s and Pac’s lives were very different from what they seemed to be. It was anything but gangsta. I was unsure of how to discuss my experiences in a way that would resonate with others. And then Kanye West was fucked.
Cole continued by giving Ye credit for assisting him in shedding the mask and embracing his own self in his music.
“The ‘Through the Wire’ video came out in the summer of 2003, just before I started college, and that shit changed my life,” he added. “I developed into a huge Kanye admirer. For the first time, I recognized myself in Kanye. He simply made it feasible to discuss your life or your ordinary viewpoint in an engaging manner.
At that time, this n-gga turned became my favorite performer. He sort of blew my head off.
Since becoming well-known himself, J. Cole and Kanye West have had a tumultuous relationship, despite Cole’s intense admiration.
His 2016 song “False Prophets” was widely interpreted as a diss against his Hip Hop hero with lines like: “Justifying that half ass shit he dropped, we always buy it / When he tell us he a genius but it’s clearer lately / It’s been hard for him to look into the mirror lately / There was a time when this n-gga was my hero, maybe / That’s the reason why his fall from grace is hard to take.”
Cole also appeared to jab the rap icon and fashion designer on 2019’s “Middle Child,” spitting: “If I smoke a rapper, it’s gon’ be legit / It won’t be for clout, it won’t be for fame / It won’t be ’cause my shit ain’t sellin’ the same / It won’t be to sell you my latest lil’ sneakers / It won’t be ’cause some n-gga slid in my lane.”
In reference to his lyrical darts, Kanye later called for a “public apology” from the North Carolina native.
On his remix of Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar’s “Like That,” Yeezy recently took aim at J. Cole himself, rapping: “Play J. Cole, get the pussy dry.”
Additionally, he attacked the Dreamville founder for remorsefully apologizing to Kendrick and withdrawing from their brief conflict.
“Fuck that pussy shit of yours. In an interview with Justin Laboy, he declared, “Fuck all that shit, man.” Because, well, that n-gga J. Cole and Drake went on tour together. He is aware of it. “N-gga, you can’t run right now.”
Ye went on: “I wouldn’t even know because I don’t listen to J. Cole.” He has a song called “False Idols,” I just heard, and someone informed me it’s half about me.
