8 Things We Learned from J. Cole in GQ

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For most of his career, J. Cole has been known to be one of the most, if not the most, reserved artist in the rap game. From rarely giving interviews to lack of collaborations with other big-name rappers, everyone knew that the Dreamville honcho kept to himself and that’s just how it was and probably always will be.

But according to him, it’s a new day and the biggest Hip-Hop name to ever come out of North Carolina (Sorry Petey Pablo) has made it a point to change his ways as “I realize, like, memories come from getting out of my comfort zone—great memories.” Looking to turn over a new leaf in this new year, Cole starts off by giving a rare interview to GQ where he talks everything from Hip-Hop stardom to fatherhood.

From explaining how he really felt about the everyone referring to him as the first rapper to go platinum without any features to getting offered a record deal from one of the biggest names in the NBA, J. Cole revealed some pretty interesting stuff to GQ’s Allison P. Davis.

Here are the 8 things we learned from J. Cole in GQ.

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Photo: Getty

1. Fame

Though J. Cole’s one of the biggest names in Hip-Hop, he admits that he doesn’t like to be the center of attention. “I don’t like center-of-attention-type moments,” he says. “Like the camera, mad people, the world watching the arena, and I have to do something right.” That kind of explains why he doesn’t do much press or meet and greets.

2. Collaborations

Cole says he’s started to collaborate with more artists and connecting with his rap peers more these days because he doesn’t want to look back on his career and feel like he left anything on the table of life.

3. Going Platinum With No Features

Initially the whole “J. Cole went platinum with no features” thing went over well with Cole, but then it began to annoy him. “I was loving it,” he says. “I was like, ‘Word up—this is funny as hell.’ But the second or third time, I was like, ‘All right, it’s almost embarrassing now.’ Like, ‘All right, man, y’all gonna make me put a feature on the album just so this shit can stop.’ ”

4. Grammy-less

Though it seems like the only thing missing from Cole’s career is that elusive Grammy trophy, he reveals that he’s has made peace with the idea that he may never win a Grammy. “I’m not supposed to have a Grammy, you know what I mean?” he says. “At least not right now, and maybe never. And if that happens, then that’s just how it was supposed to be.” Nah, he gonna get that Gramophone Award one day.

5. Once Upon A Time…

One of J. Cole’s early rap monikers was “Therapist.” Eh, we like J. Cole better.

6. Colin Kaepernick

Talking about Colin Kaepernick’s settlement with the NFL, Cole feels that “justice was served” and thinks that Kaep will “probably play again.” We certainly hope so.

7. Signed To Amare Stoudemire?

Before signing with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2009, NBA All-Star Amare Stoudemire wanted to sign J. Cole to his label, Hypocalypto. Knowing that he was about to meet with Hova for the opportunity of a lifetime, Cole turned down Amare’s offer (thank God! No shots).

8. Fatherhood

Cole admits that he doesn’t feel that “change” in life that most people get when experiencing fatherhood because “I changed my life in order to get ready to have a family and to have a son. I literally changed my life, where I was living, the things that I was doing. I changed. So because of that, when my son came, I was ready. I already made room.”