It’s not going to stop until I’m ready to stop, and I don’t see that happening. No, I haven’t really stopped, for real, because I know I still got a lot of work to do. What has life been like for you since signing to Dreamville? Have you had a chance to relax? SZA was in the same studio that night I created “Hereditary,” because I did that in L.A. I was thinking Rihanna could kill a part, or maybe Kehlani or SZA. “Hereditary,” I was writing it from a woman’s perspective. Initially I wanted to be a writer for other people. I was just trying to spill my guts, and I think people received it that way.
![jcole 4 your eyez only tour atlanta jcole 4 your eyez only tour atlanta](https://i.redd.it/uagbgvrcwu751.jpg)
Everybody’s like, “I love ‘Lauder'” and don’t know what shit means, though I just told them now. “Lauder” is a favorite because the name of the song is a friend of mine who passed away. Which songs on The Never Story are you most proud of? I might bring it on tour with me and shit. I go it in one of my drawers in this little case right quick. It just may not be the same.” He was making a joke and shit like that, like a total asshole. You might lose all your juice after they took your wisdom tooth out.
![jcole 4 your eyez only tour atlanta jcole 4 your eyez only tour atlanta](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-VspmBFvYWI/maxresdefault.jpg)
I was talking to one of my engineers, and he’s like, ‘I don’t know, man. I used to have straight migraines after shows or when I record, and I was spitting blood out because I bit my cheek with the fucking wisdom tooth, and it was just sucking for years. This is the first time I’ve been able to do the shit and there’s no physical problems. I started recording again last week after I healed up. I could literally be anywhere I want, on my phone, a laptop or computer. It’s so much shit out there, especially with the internet. I will go to every fucking length to spark an idea. Writer’s block, I hate that fucking idea. I try to be like hella sensitive to my surroundings.Ī lot of artists talk about waiting for inspiration to hit. I literally bring a writing utensil and a book with me.
![jcole 4 your eyez only tour atlanta jcole 4 your eyez only tour atlanta](https://media2.fdncms.com/mia/imager/u/magnum/13009404/j-cole-off-season-tour-ftx-arena-miami-credit-michele-eve-sandberg_18.jpg)
Even if I try to freestyle some shit, I literally have the topic in mind and the first eight lines. I don’t really go in without a thought on where I’m gonna go with it. I try to do like a combination of both, if that’s a thing. It was about me being able to create the art I want to make.ĭo you write every lyric out, or are you someone who sketches out the melody first? And it’s an amazing situation with amazing people. But sometimes you just need the fucking money. I didn’t really know too much about deals I had to talk to people and learn about the industry.
![jcole 4 your eyez only tour atlanta jcole 4 your eyez only tour atlanta](https://i0.wp.com/inyaearhiphop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/j-cole-announces-4-your-eyez-only-world-tour.jpg)
Like, “Damn, why do people like it? Why are they attracted to this?” I do my research, get information on why something works, as opposed to just saying, “I hate this shit. But at the same time, I’m trying to understand. I feel our generation, we’re cool with the fiends or whatever. I just never fucked with the over-glorification, but with more of the struggle. It was always means to a better way, to feed your family. I didn’t see it like you sit and be stagnant – be happy with where you at in life. When I grew up, drug dealers and people who was doing illegal stuff to get money, I never saw it as like a glorified thing. I don’t even know what made me think of that in particular. In “General” you rap, “I don’t fuck with happy trappers.” How did you get to that point?