J. Cole quotes

J. Cole is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer, acclaimed for his thoughtful lyrics and storytelling. His albums have achieved critical and commercial success, making a significant impact on modern hip-hop. He has inspired millions with his honest reflections on life, identity, and social issues. Here are 53 of his quotes:

I struggled with being a broke college graduate, and while all my friends were getting career jobs, I was working horrible part-time jobs. That's why now, even when I get tired, I think, 'This is what I asked for.'

J. Cole

I always feel like it's two key ingredients when it comes to following your dreams, making something happen that the average person deems difficult. If you truly believe it, that's step one. Step two, is, you know, the hard work that goes along with it.

J. Cole

I've always been an underdog. I feel like I beat the odds.

J. Cole

Usually I start with a beat, I start making a beat, and my producer side is making the beat. And on a good day, my rapper side will jump in and start the writing process - maybe come up with a hook or start a verse. Sometimes it just happens like that. A song like 'Lights Please' happens like that.

J. Cole

I put a lot of pressure on myself. I think something's not good enough, and I won't stop until I feel like I've made it. I'm never satisfied.

J. Cole

I feel like this: Whatever is in your path and in your heart, you need to do.

J. Cole

Anything I do, I want to do it well.

J. Cole

If I was to go to sleep before midnight, I would feel weird about myself, like I wasted a day. My most productive hours are between midnight and five.

J. Cole

You can't reverse fame. You can lose all the money, but you'll never lose people knowing you.

J. Cole

I had a lot of resistance, and not just to fame. I was always conscious of not changing.

J. Cole

College isn't in everyone's hearts. I am living proof, though, that school doesn't mess up your plans. It gives you more experiences to write about.

J. Cole

As much as it might look like, to someone else, that I'm successful, I never feel like I'm anywhere. The further I go, I still feel equally further from my eventual goal. Because as I grow, I get more goals. I'm never content.

J. Cole

Sometimes I try a Mai Tai. It's so fruity. It's a little embarrassing, but I like it.

J. Cole

I'm the same kid who used to hop the trains with headphones and just go to downtown Manhattan, walk around and listen to music or walk through the city. The fame restricts that. It's a small complaint in comparison to the benefits I get from it, but the restrictive part is what I don't like - and the fact that it's not reversible.

J. Cole

I want people to follow their dreams, yes... but I'm not interested in telling young black kids how to be rappers... I want to show them that there's so many other paths you can take, besides a rapper or basketball player.

J. Cole

My fans love me for me, my beats, my rhymes.

J. Cole

I still wanna rap better than everybody else, and I wanna say important things.

J. Cole

The thing about being an artist today is you get to develop right in front of people's eyes before you even put out an album.

J. Cole

I was just a goofy little funny kid, who was always getting sent to the principal. It wasn't serious because I was smart. I wasn't like a true troublemaker, just rambunctious - like, talkative and trying to be funny. That was me in middle-school.

J. Cole

I had a rat-tail when I was younger. I had this nice Bobby Brown fade, with a rat-tail that was long enough to wrap around my face. I used to chew on the end and bite it.

J. Cole

I think if I did something in the pop world right now, it would be for Rihanna. I'd love to do something production wise for her.

J. Cole

Producing all my own songs and refusing to go to the hot producer. That's the biggest risk I've taken so far.

J. Cole