J. Cole has acknowledged Kanye West as a pivotal figure in shaping his music and career. Reflecting in his early days as an artist, the Dreamville rapper shared that Kanye’s influence helped him evolve from a battle rapper with fabricated narratives to an artist who could authentically connect with his audience.
Before Kanye’s emergence, J. Cole struggled to merge his ordinary life experiences with compelling storytelling in his music.
He admired the lives and artistry of rap icons like JAY-Z and Tupac but felt disconnected from their realities, which often revolved around street life and its challenges.
As someone with a regular upbringing and no ties to the streets, Cole found it difficult to craft relatable music without resorting to fiction.
The turning point came in 2003 when Kanye’s debut single and accompanying video inspired Cole to reimagine his approach.
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Kanye’s ability to embrace his own vulnerabilities and speak candidly about his life resonated deeply with the aspiring rapper.
For J. Cole, Kanye represented a new blueprint—one where authenticity could thrive in a genre often dominated by bravado and posturing.
Kanye’s impact on Cole’s artistry is evident in the latter’s introspective lyrics and emphasis on storytelling. However, despite the admiration, the relationship between the two has been fraught with tension.
Cole has been critical of Kanye’s actions in his lyrics, which some interpreted as subtle digs at the rap icon. Kanye, in turn, has responded with his own jabs.
