Inspirational Quotes
Words to motivate, inspire, and guide you.
J. Cole Quotes
DeterminationGratitudeGrowthPerseveranceResilience 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.'
AchievementCelebrationLuxurySelf-ImprovementStatus I've got two Rolexes that I'm very proud of - a gold Presidential that was a gift and a white gold one I gifted myself. I'm trying to step my game up and get a few more of those.
AspirationCollaborationInfluenceMusic IndustryProduction 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.
EnjoymentHumorSelf-awarenessTaste Preferences Sometimes I try a Mai Tai. It's so fruity. It's a little embarrassing, but I like it.
AuthenticityCourageGuidanceHopeInspiration I'm here to spread a message of hope. Follow your heart. Don't follow what you've been told you're supposed to do.
Artistic DevelopmentCreativityInnovationPublic Perception 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.
AspirationHobbiesIdentityPassionTime Management I have a little bit of that gamer spirit in me. I just don't have the time to be a gamer. But in another life, I would be one.
AuthenticityCreativityMusic IndustryPersonal PassionStorytelling I now possess the tools as a producer and a songwriter to really just go out and make smashes all day long. I could make an album full of smash records that got pop appeal. But my heart is in hip-hop. My heart is in telling stories. And it's like therapy for me.
AmbitionAspirationExpressionImportanceSelf-Improvement I still wanna rap better than everybody else, and I wanna say important things.
ExpectationMindsetPerformancePressureSuccess When you're headlining, people are paying to come see you specifically. It's a different kind of pressure, because you've got to deliver. You've got to give these people what they paid for. It's a different mind state, a different type of mentality, but it's honestly a pretty good problem to have, you know?
Privilege and DiscriminationRace and IdentitySelf-awarenessSocial PerceptionSuccess and Opportunity Barack Obama would not be President if he were dark skin. You know what I mean? That's just the truth. I might not be as successful as I am now if I was dark skin.
Community and BelongingDreams and AspirationsHome and FamilySecurity and Comfort My real dream is to have a whole, like, buy a whole piece of land. Imagine, like, a long driveway. Like, a cul de sac-type street, with maybe, like, seven houses. Me be right here. Have my mom be able to be right here. My brother over here. My girl's grandmother and family right here. Friends over there. That's my real dream.
BusinessEthicsMarketingPersuasionSelf Reflection I worked in ad sales. I would call up local businesses and try to get them to buy ads in the paper. The whole time, I felt like I was just scamming people.
MusicProductionRapSelf-ConfidenceTalent There's been people who've rapped and produced - like Kanye - but I don't feel like on the rapping side there's ever been a producer who can rap as good as I think I can rap.
BeliefDreamsHard WorkMotivationPerseverance 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.
ArtistryIdentityInfluenceMusicStorytelling I was a super-duper Tupac fan, and I realized later, when I became a huge Nas fan and a huge Eminem fan, I was drawn to the storytellers. They all told stories in different ways, but they were all like the best storytellers.
HumorIntelligenceSelf-ExpressionYouth I was a class clown. At 12, I was definitely clowning. I was making all the jokes. But I was smart, so the teachers didn't know what to do with me.
ArtistryAuthenticityCreativityExpressionMessage Rhyme patterns are nothing without meanings to the words. A lot of rappers can do those flows, but the raps aren't really about anything - which is cool sometimes, but to have the flow and the message is one of my favorite things.
Attention to DetailHumilityPerseveranceRelationshipsWork Ethic When I was in college my girl got me a job at the doctor's office she was working at. I was a file clerk. No disrespect but I don't think a man can do that job. It takes so much meticulous and precise file-keeping.
Mental HealthPressureSelf-AnalysisSelf-doubtSelf Reflection I'm a super-duper over-analyzer. You mix that with self-doubt and pressure, and that's never healthy.
AspirationDiversity of PathsEmpowermentRepresentationYouth Inspiration 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.
Celebration of SuccessCultural BackgroundFamily and RelationshipsMaterial WealthPersonal Growth There was the time I bought three cars in the span of three or four weeks. It was crazy; it wasn't greedy. It was mine, my girl's, my mom's. I got Benzes for my ladies. But I felt crazy. You have to understand I come from a world where we're very modest. But that's not greedy. That's nice, right?
AuthenticityCreativityIndependenceMusicRisk Taking Producing all my own songs and refusing to go to the hot producer. That's the biggest risk I've taken so far.
CourageDeterminationMotivationPassionSelf-Discovery I feel like this: Whatever is in your path and in your heart, you need to do.
AuthenticityLoveMusic IndustryPerfectionSelf-awareness No rapper in the world from Jay-Z to Tupac to Biggie has 100 percent love on everything they do.
CompetitionExpressionHip-hop cultureLoveRespect In hip-hop, there's not a lot of love. There's not a lot of love being spread. It's always like 'I'm stuntin' on you raps, or I'm better than you raps.' It's not a lot of 'Yo man, I idolize you raps.'
Childhood ExperienceEmotional ImpactFamily DynamicsMemory and PerceptionSeparation and Divorce My parents were divorced by the time I was even conscious - like, I don't remember them ever being together.
EducationExperienceGrowthPerspectiveResilience 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.
ChangeFameFreedomPersonal GrowthRestrictions 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.