1 00:00:09,467 --> 00:00:14,556 ** 2 00:00:14,597 --> 00:00:16,349 -Wow! How excited am I? 3 00:00:16,391 --> 00:00:18,184 Ladies and gentlemen, my guest today 4 00:00:18,226 --> 00:00:20,353 is one of those rare artists who sells a ton of records. 5 00:00:20,395 --> 00:00:22,814 He gets rave reviews from critics and influences 6 00:00:22,856 --> 00:00:24,816 a whole generation of young rappers. 7 00:00:24,858 --> 00:00:27,110 He won a ton of awards, and even tied the record 8 00:00:27,152 --> 00:00:28,862 of a little group called The Beatles 9 00:00:28,903 --> 00:00:30,822 for having six simultaneously top-20 hits 10 00:00:30,864 --> 00:00:32,490 on the Billboard charts. 11 00:00:32,532 --> 00:00:34,242 And besides all that, the guy can actually play basketball -- 12 00:00:34,284 --> 00:00:36,119 not a little bit, actually a lot of bit. 13 00:00:36,161 --> 00:00:37,871 You should see his jump shot. Ladies and gentlemen, 14 00:00:37,912 --> 00:00:40,331 I'm talking about none other than J. Cole. 15 00:00:40,373 --> 00:00:41,750 Get out here, J. -Ooh! 16 00:00:41,791 --> 00:00:43,293 -Look at that, man. See how I pieced that together? 17 00:00:43,335 --> 00:00:45,170 -That boy is a pro. -Good to see you, man. 18 00:00:45,211 --> 00:00:46,629 -You too, bro. -You look good, man. 19 00:00:46,671 --> 00:00:48,214 -Thank you, man. You, too. Thanks for having me. 20 00:00:48,256 --> 00:00:51,051 -Ah, man, thank you for being here, dude. 21 00:00:51,092 --> 00:00:53,970 You know, J., this show -- I say it all the time 22 00:00:54,012 --> 00:00:56,473 when people come on, just to set the tone, 23 00:00:56,514 --> 00:00:58,892 make sure the temperature is right, the climate is good, 24 00:00:58,933 --> 00:01:00,268 'cause I want you to be relaxed. 25 00:01:00,310 --> 00:01:02,270 This is a show where it's about the artist. 26 00:01:02,312 --> 00:01:05,523 I'm here to give flowers to those that deserve 'em. 27 00:01:05,565 --> 00:01:07,609 -I appreciate it. Thank you. -That conversation is done 28 00:01:07,650 --> 00:01:08,943 over a glass of wine. 29 00:01:08,985 --> 00:01:11,863 I wanna call my somm in here. DLynn. 30 00:01:11,905 --> 00:01:13,198 Come on on in, D. 31 00:01:13,239 --> 00:01:14,866 My God. What are we drinking today, D.? 32 00:01:14,908 --> 00:01:16,493 -There you go. Mr. Hart, Mr. Cole World. 33 00:01:16,534 --> 00:01:18,620 -How ya doin', brother? -Very good, very good. 34 00:01:18,661 --> 00:01:21,664 A beautiful 2020 Syrah... -Not 2020. 35 00:01:21,706 --> 00:01:23,208 -...Edna Valley. -Not Edna Valley. 36 00:01:23,249 --> 00:01:26,086 -Classic, beautiful, less than 100 cases produced. 37 00:01:26,127 --> 00:01:28,546 -Less than 100. -Fantastic wine. May I? 38 00:01:28,588 --> 00:01:32,217 -Yes, please, please. Only the best for Cole World. 39 00:01:32,258 --> 00:01:33,510 -Absolutely. 40 00:01:33,551 --> 00:01:35,053 -That's what I -- you already know how we do. 41 00:01:35,095 --> 00:01:36,221 -Yes, indeed. Grab a taste of that. 42 00:01:36,262 --> 00:01:38,056 I'll pour Mr. Cole... -Oohh! 43 00:01:38,098 --> 00:01:40,850 -Let me go ahead. Yeah. You know. See, J. -- 44 00:01:40,892 --> 00:01:43,228 J. is one of the people that actually lives life 45 00:01:43,269 --> 00:01:45,146 actually on the very clean side, 46 00:01:45,188 --> 00:01:47,107 and I said, "I'm not gonna force you to do anything, 47 00:01:47,148 --> 00:01:48,400 but you still need to look the part." 48 00:01:48,441 --> 00:01:50,068 So that man's got some water. -Man! 49 00:01:50,110 --> 00:01:51,403 That's really thoughtful. I appreciate that, man. 50 00:01:51,444 --> 00:01:53,029 -Absolutely, man. Come on, man, toast. 51 00:01:53,071 --> 00:01:54,739 -Is -- can you actually -- it's water, right? 52 00:01:54,781 --> 00:01:56,324 -That's water. -Then we gotta do it 53 00:01:56,366 --> 00:01:58,076 long distance, really, 'cause to actually clink water, 54 00:01:58,118 --> 00:02:00,203 I feel like it's -- it's, like I said -- 55 00:02:00,245 --> 00:02:01,579 -Do you know something I don't know? 56 00:02:01,621 --> 00:02:03,206 -No, it's considered bad luck to cheers -- 57 00:02:03,248 --> 00:02:04,833 -Who told you that? -This was a long time ago. 58 00:02:04,874 --> 00:02:06,167 -I've been doing it for a long time, 59 00:02:06,209 --> 00:02:08,044 so shit gonna change in my life, tell me now. 60 00:02:08,086 --> 00:02:09,337 -Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 61 00:02:09,379 --> 00:02:10,964 -Goddamn it! -I don't even know. 62 00:02:11,006 --> 00:02:12,257 It's just one of the things, I'm like, I'd rather not. 63 00:02:12,298 --> 00:02:14,009 But we'll do an air drink. -Air, air. 64 00:02:14,050 --> 00:02:15,260 -Love, brother. Thank you for having me, man. 65 00:02:15,301 --> 00:02:17,262 -Um, J., man, God, where do I start? 66 00:02:17,303 --> 00:02:20,306 First I want to start by saying congrats. 67 00:02:20,348 --> 00:02:22,183 I've known you for a long time. -Thank you, bro. 68 00:02:22,225 --> 00:02:25,437 -A long fucking time, man. I remember first meeting you. 69 00:02:25,478 --> 00:02:27,522 I was in New York. I had a comedy show. 70 00:02:27,564 --> 00:02:29,607 -Do you remember this? Oh. -I remember. 71 00:02:29,649 --> 00:02:32,235 Had a comedy show in New York. I was performing in the round. 72 00:02:32,277 --> 00:02:33,737 -Yep. You were at the Westbury -- 73 00:02:33,778 --> 00:02:35,113 it was like the Westbury Theatre. 74 00:02:35,155 --> 00:02:36,489 -You are 1,000% right. -Yep. 75 00:02:36,531 --> 00:02:38,366 -You came to the show. -You were doing, like, 76 00:02:38,408 --> 00:02:40,744 multiple nights at that point. -Yeah. I did about six shows. 77 00:02:40,785 --> 00:02:42,120 -Yes, bro. -Six shows there. 78 00:02:42,162 --> 00:02:44,497 -Crazy. -You came to the show. 79 00:02:44,539 --> 00:02:47,792 It was dope because this was one of, like, my -- 80 00:02:47,834 --> 00:02:49,419 -I bought tickets, by the way. 81 00:02:49,461 --> 00:02:50,879 -Here's why it was dope. 82 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:54,132 This was, like, one of my first real moments of, like, 83 00:02:54,174 --> 00:02:58,845 getting the support from my generation's, like, next. 84 00:02:58,887 --> 00:03:02,265 Like, we're a part of the same timestamp. 85 00:03:02,307 --> 00:03:04,267 We were starting at the same point. 86 00:03:04,309 --> 00:03:06,728 We were all bubbling at the same point. 87 00:03:06,770 --> 00:03:08,271 And that show you came to, 88 00:03:08,313 --> 00:03:09,856 I remember you left and it was dope as fuck. 89 00:03:09,898 --> 00:03:11,399 I was, like, yo, man. That was dope he came through. 90 00:03:11,441 --> 00:03:13,485 He had tickets. He supported. 91 00:03:13,526 --> 00:03:15,653 And it was big because I was, like, damn, man, 92 00:03:15,695 --> 00:03:16,905 they starting to fuck with me. 93 00:03:16,946 --> 00:03:18,406 -Mm-hmm. -That was, like, my -- 94 00:03:18,448 --> 00:03:20,658 my little inkling of they're starting to fuck with me. 95 00:03:20,700 --> 00:03:23,912 Like, he came out to see -- support -- it was a big deal. 96 00:03:23,953 --> 00:03:25,205 -Yes. -We talked in the back. 97 00:03:25,246 --> 00:03:26,915 We shook hands. You showed me love. 98 00:03:26,956 --> 00:03:28,667 I showed the same amount of love back. 99 00:03:28,708 --> 00:03:34,339 And that J. Cole then is nowhere near the J. Cole of now. 100 00:03:34,381 --> 00:03:36,549 Right? The J. Cole now is dope as fuck 101 00:03:36,591 --> 00:03:40,428 because you're just at a different place in your life. 102 00:03:40,470 --> 00:03:43,014 And I don't want to start from the beginning. 103 00:03:43,056 --> 00:03:45,141 I want to start, like, with now. 104 00:03:45,183 --> 00:03:47,435 You are at such a -- 105 00:03:47,477 --> 00:03:51,439 it seems to be a place of peace and a place of calm, right? 106 00:03:51,481 --> 00:03:55,151 And at some point, something happened somewhere, 107 00:03:55,193 --> 00:03:58,530 some way, some what, to make you make the decision to go, 108 00:03:58,571 --> 00:04:01,783 "I'm gonna flip things around and I'm gonna protect mine 109 00:04:01,825 --> 00:04:03,201 and really focus on me." 110 00:04:03,243 --> 00:04:05,912 -Mm-hmm. -What was that moment for you? 111 00:04:05,954 --> 00:04:10,083 -Oh, it was... 112 00:04:10,125 --> 00:04:13,461 probably about, like, two albums in. 113 00:04:13,503 --> 00:04:15,338 I was two albums in, but I was probably, like, 114 00:04:15,380 --> 00:04:18,216 four or five projects in. -Okay. 115 00:04:18,258 --> 00:04:20,719 -And it was, like, just noticing that on paper. 116 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,429 You know, on paper I -- 117 00:04:22,470 --> 00:04:24,556 on paper, if I would have showed 118 00:04:24,597 --> 00:04:28,476 the 14-year-old version of me what I had accomplished, 119 00:04:28,518 --> 00:04:30,103 if I could go back in time and be, like, 120 00:04:30,145 --> 00:04:31,563 "Bro, look what you just did," 121 00:04:31,604 --> 00:04:33,356 the 14-year-old version of me would be, like -- 122 00:04:33,398 --> 00:04:35,942 like, "What?!" Like, "I knew it!" 123 00:04:35,984 --> 00:04:38,445 You know what I mean? But the actual -- 124 00:04:38,486 --> 00:04:42,365 at that time, 28-year-old version, 125 00:04:42,407 --> 00:04:46,202 or 29-year-old version was not feeling like a -- 126 00:04:46,244 --> 00:04:47,704 was not feeling good. You know what I mean? 127 00:04:47,746 --> 00:04:51,082 He was not feeling -- wasn't enough appreciation 128 00:04:51,124 --> 00:04:54,210 and wasn't enough, like, recognition 129 00:04:54,252 --> 00:04:55,462 of what I was actually doing. 130 00:04:55,503 --> 00:04:57,172 -Okay. -Too much emphasis and focus 131 00:04:57,213 --> 00:04:59,632 on where I wasn't yet. -Okay. 132 00:04:59,674 --> 00:05:01,551 -And that hadn't been me up until that point. 133 00:05:01,593 --> 00:05:05,096 So that sparked -- it probably was, like, a couple years -- 134 00:05:05,138 --> 00:05:07,390 -Is that you? You're saying, like, 135 00:05:07,432 --> 00:05:09,309 the focus on what you were doing 136 00:05:09,351 --> 00:05:11,269 and the emphasis from the outside -- 137 00:05:11,311 --> 00:05:12,604 was that you putting pressure on yourself? 138 00:05:12,645 --> 00:05:15,231 Is that you not being happy with not hearing 139 00:05:15,273 --> 00:05:16,775 certain things about the work you're doing? 140 00:05:16,816 --> 00:05:18,068 -100%. -Okay. All right. 141 00:05:18,109 --> 00:05:19,611 -It was ego-driven, 100%. -Got it. Got it. 142 00:05:19,652 --> 00:05:21,905 -It was like there was a nugget somebody dropped for me. 143 00:05:21,946 --> 00:05:23,782 They didn't know what I was going through, necessarily, 144 00:05:23,823 --> 00:05:26,451 but maybe they saw something. 145 00:05:26,493 --> 00:05:28,119 But it sparked -- 146 00:05:28,161 --> 00:05:30,789 it sparked a practice that would lead me 147 00:05:30,830 --> 00:05:32,665 to exactly what you started the conversation with, 148 00:05:32,707 --> 00:05:36,378 which was, like, just a more, like, peaceful place in my life 149 00:05:36,419 --> 00:05:38,296 and more of a "phew, phew!" You know what I mean? 150 00:05:38,338 --> 00:05:40,382 And that was a -- at the time, I had -- 151 00:05:40,423 --> 00:05:42,384 and at this time, it's the team. 152 00:05:42,425 --> 00:05:44,010 The team ain't right. You know what I mean? 153 00:05:44,052 --> 00:05:45,720 At that time, it was ego-driven. 154 00:05:45,762 --> 00:05:47,847 Like, you're not getting the things that you want. 155 00:05:47,889 --> 00:05:49,933 And this time, for me, it was, like, "Oh, the Grammys. 156 00:05:49,974 --> 00:05:51,434 They not fucking with me. 157 00:05:51,476 --> 00:05:54,521 Oh, the such and such magazine, or this -- 158 00:05:54,562 --> 00:05:56,106 why I'm not up here?" You know what I mean? 159 00:05:56,147 --> 00:05:57,649 This was quietly what was happening in my mind. 160 00:05:57,691 --> 00:06:00,568 So I got with this new publicist, Kathryn Frazier, 161 00:06:00,610 --> 00:06:03,738 and she's amazing woman, 162 00:06:03,780 --> 00:06:06,324 and, you know, in the midst of us talking, 163 00:06:06,366 --> 00:06:08,576 we would have conversations outside of, like, just career, 164 00:06:08,618 --> 00:06:12,414 and she was just telling me how she was into meditation. 165 00:06:12,455 --> 00:06:14,374 She was into, like, transcendental meditation. 166 00:06:14,416 --> 00:06:16,710 Boom, boom. And I had flirted with it, 167 00:06:16,751 --> 00:06:19,713 like, in my early 20s, like, practiced it a little bit. 168 00:06:19,754 --> 00:06:21,214 Just didn't really know what I was doing, 169 00:06:21,256 --> 00:06:22,590 but had a nice little experience. 170 00:06:22,632 --> 00:06:24,634 But I didn't dive into it. But mind you, 171 00:06:24,676 --> 00:06:28,847 her telling me about that was coinciding with me 172 00:06:28,888 --> 00:06:30,849 realizing, yo, something's going on, bro. 173 00:06:30,890 --> 00:06:34,352 You gotta -- so I had set rules for myself. 174 00:06:34,394 --> 00:06:35,895 One was, well, bro, you can't go on social media no more. 175 00:06:35,937 --> 00:06:38,398 Like, we're from the first generation of, like, 176 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,025 entertainers, celebrities, whatever 177 00:06:40,066 --> 00:06:43,570 where it's like, bro, you could literally, at any minute, 178 00:06:43,611 --> 00:06:45,613 see what somebody is saying about you, know what I mean? 179 00:06:45,655 --> 00:06:47,532 And, like, there was nobody to tell you -- 180 00:06:47,574 --> 00:06:48,992 like, cigarettes. 181 00:06:49,034 --> 00:06:51,786 When the whole world for decades was smoking cigarettes, 182 00:06:51,828 --> 00:06:55,373 there wasn't anybody loudly saying, like, 183 00:06:55,415 --> 00:06:57,208 "That's gonna kill you in about -- 184 00:06:57,250 --> 00:06:58,877 you probably shouldn't do that." 185 00:06:58,918 --> 00:07:01,629 Took a long time for somebody to realize how harmful this was. 186 00:07:01,671 --> 00:07:04,966 And similarly, we are in a generation 187 00:07:05,008 --> 00:07:06,676 where our entertainers, 188 00:07:06,718 --> 00:07:08,678 our basketball players, our boom-boom, 189 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,722 like, no one was there, and, even now, 190 00:07:10,764 --> 00:07:14,434 nobody's there to be, like, "Don't Google yourself. 191 00:07:14,476 --> 00:07:16,394 Don't search your name or boom-boom." 192 00:07:16,436 --> 00:07:19,606 So I say all that to say I had set some rules for myself, 193 00:07:19,647 --> 00:07:22,484 some baseline rules. Like, yo, don't -- 194 00:07:22,525 --> 00:07:24,652 don't go on Twitter, don't read your replies. 195 00:07:24,694 --> 00:07:26,237 Do not search your name. Boom, boom. 196 00:07:26,279 --> 00:07:27,947 That's rule number one. Number two -- 197 00:07:27,989 --> 00:07:30,575 when you're creating, you gotta create from a pure place only. 198 00:07:30,617 --> 00:07:32,202 Like, there was a rule I set for myself, 199 00:07:32,243 --> 00:07:33,745 like, everything has to only be 200 00:07:33,787 --> 00:07:35,455 truly what you feel in your heart, boom-boom. 201 00:07:35,497 --> 00:07:37,123 -This is, of course, coming because you saw -- 202 00:07:37,165 --> 00:07:38,667 you saw yourself do the opposite. 203 00:07:38,708 --> 00:07:40,752 -Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. -You saw yourself dive deep 204 00:07:40,794 --> 00:07:42,671 into the space of social media. I'm searching. 205 00:07:42,712 --> 00:07:44,422 I see what they're saying. I'm getting angry. 206 00:07:44,464 --> 00:07:45,924 -[ Laughing ] Oh, yeah! -I'm getting irritated. 207 00:07:45,965 --> 00:07:47,384 -Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. -How to fuck with the fucked. 208 00:07:47,425 --> 00:07:48,760 -For sure. -Okay. Now I'm creating 209 00:07:48,802 --> 00:07:50,595 and my creating is coming from -- 210 00:07:50,637 --> 00:07:52,472 -Yes, bro! -This is infusing 211 00:07:52,514 --> 00:07:54,265 and influencing my creative. -100%. 212 00:07:54,307 --> 00:07:56,101 -Bitch, I see what you said. -Yeah. 213 00:07:56,142 --> 00:07:58,228 -Like, it's now becoming a part of you. 214 00:07:58,269 --> 00:08:00,563 -It's the nastiest place to ever do some 215 00:08:00,605 --> 00:08:03,441 artful shit and some pure -- it's just like, 216 00:08:03,483 --> 00:08:04,901 yo, you can't -- it's like 217 00:08:04,943 --> 00:08:07,487 you have to really leave all room, I feel like, 218 00:08:07,529 --> 00:08:10,448 in the creative process, for, like, for God. 219 00:08:10,490 --> 00:08:13,284 You know what I mean? And the minute you start, like, 220 00:08:13,326 --> 00:08:14,744 thinking about what somebody else 221 00:08:14,786 --> 00:08:16,579 is gonna think about it -- boom, boom, boom -- 222 00:08:16,621 --> 00:08:18,623 I caught myself in that space for a moment. 223 00:08:18,665 --> 00:08:20,333 And it was so unfamiliar to me 224 00:08:20,375 --> 00:08:21,626 'cause that's never how I used to work. 225 00:08:21,668 --> 00:08:23,628 -Mm-hmm. -And so to get up out of that, 226 00:08:23,670 --> 00:08:26,006 I had to set these ground rules. -Was it a struggle, though? 227 00:08:26,047 --> 00:08:28,466 Was it an easy transition? 228 00:08:28,508 --> 00:08:30,010 -It was easy -- -Or was it a battle? 229 00:08:30,051 --> 00:08:31,302 -No, it was a -- 230 00:08:31,344 --> 00:08:32,804 I mean, I'm not gonna say it was, like -- 231 00:08:32,846 --> 00:08:34,305 'cause you realize those things are addictions. 232 00:08:34,347 --> 00:08:35,640 Right? Those things become addictions. 233 00:08:35,682 --> 00:08:37,142 Like, social media becomes an addiction. 234 00:08:37,183 --> 00:08:40,145 So, yeah, in a sense, it's like 235 00:08:40,186 --> 00:08:41,604 you have to check yourself 236 00:08:41,646 --> 00:08:43,189 and tell yourself, like, "Don't do that." 237 00:08:43,231 --> 00:08:44,691 -Mm-hmm. -You know what I mean? 238 00:08:44,733 --> 00:08:46,443 Like, or catch yourself. "No, get off of there." 239 00:08:46,484 --> 00:08:49,988 But every time you -- every time I feel like... 240 00:08:50,030 --> 00:08:53,116 Every time you say no, like, while battling, 241 00:08:53,158 --> 00:08:54,951 like, an addiction, it's like you get stronger. 242 00:08:54,993 --> 00:08:57,328 You add a pebble to your, like, to your strength. 243 00:08:57,370 --> 00:08:58,913 You know what I mean? -I like that. 244 00:08:58,955 --> 00:09:00,707 -You know what I mean? It's, like, yo, 245 00:09:00,749 --> 00:09:02,792 a "no" is a powerful thing and you get stronger, 246 00:09:02,834 --> 00:09:04,919 and the other thing gets just a little more weaker. 247 00:09:04,961 --> 00:09:09,132 So -- But so while I set these ground rules for myself, 248 00:09:09,174 --> 00:09:11,634 she mentioned the meditation, and she had explained to me, 249 00:09:11,676 --> 00:09:14,429 like, how her experience with it and how life-changing it was 250 00:09:14,471 --> 00:09:16,014 and how clear she felt -- boom, boom. 251 00:09:16,056 --> 00:09:17,724 So I was, like, you know what? I was out in L.A. 252 00:09:17,766 --> 00:09:19,517 Like, I had came out here to work on the album. 253 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:20,727 I had the album title. 254 00:09:20,769 --> 00:09:22,270 It was "2014 Forest Hills Drive." 255 00:09:22,312 --> 00:09:23,897 I had it all mapped out. 256 00:09:23,938 --> 00:09:25,523 I knew what the album was gonna be called. 257 00:09:25,565 --> 00:09:27,025 I knew I was gonna buy the house back. 258 00:09:27,067 --> 00:09:28,651 It all felt like it was, like, supposed to happen. 259 00:09:28,693 --> 00:09:31,112 And I started adding that. 260 00:09:31,154 --> 00:09:32,697 By the time five months hit, 261 00:09:32,739 --> 00:09:35,200 I would have these revelations and clarity about my life, 262 00:09:35,241 --> 00:09:38,620 and I would see what was actually happening in my life 263 00:09:38,661 --> 00:09:41,206 and where I was headed. You know what I mean? 264 00:09:41,247 --> 00:09:43,541 -I love the space that you're at, man. 265 00:09:43,583 --> 00:09:44,918 Let's stop right here for a second. 266 00:09:44,959 --> 00:09:46,544 Guys, we're gonna take a quick break. 267 00:09:46,586 --> 00:09:48,213 We gotta pay some bills. 268 00:09:48,254 --> 00:09:50,006 We'll be right back with more "Hart to Heart" after this. 269 00:09:50,048 --> 00:09:56,805 ** 270 00:10:00,225 --> 00:10:05,105 ** 271 00:10:05,146 --> 00:10:07,148 -Ah, welcome back, guys. 272 00:10:07,190 --> 00:10:08,775 We are still here with J. Cole, 273 00:10:08,817 --> 00:10:11,736 and this is "Hart to Heart." And, J., dude, 274 00:10:11,778 --> 00:10:13,613 I gotta let you pick right back up where you left off 275 00:10:13,655 --> 00:10:15,031 'cause you were in such a good place. 276 00:10:15,073 --> 00:10:16,866 So the album comes out. I mean, look, 277 00:10:16,908 --> 00:10:19,786 you get to this space of amazing clarity. 278 00:10:19,828 --> 00:10:23,832 Holy shit, you drop this album. Life-changing album. 279 00:10:23,873 --> 00:10:26,418 After going through the meditation process, 280 00:10:26,459 --> 00:10:30,130 the first proof of concept is 281 00:10:30,171 --> 00:10:34,801 the product that was developed during or while or after. 282 00:10:34,843 --> 00:10:38,638 So the lightbulb now that goes off is what? 283 00:10:38,680 --> 00:10:41,975 -Nah, I just -- my take was, 284 00:10:42,017 --> 00:10:45,645 this is what it feels like when you -- when you 285 00:10:45,687 --> 00:10:48,314 are really in tune with yourself, 286 00:10:48,356 --> 00:10:49,733 really in tune with God, 287 00:10:49,774 --> 00:10:52,027 when the noise can't enter. 288 00:10:52,068 --> 00:10:53,945 You know what I mean? This is what it feels like. 289 00:10:53,987 --> 00:10:55,905 And even to this day, bro, it's like -- 290 00:10:55,947 --> 00:10:59,242 it's funny 'cause I find myself talking about meditation a lot, 291 00:10:59,284 --> 00:11:00,618 but it's not like -- 292 00:11:00,660 --> 00:11:02,620 but it's only because in conversation, 293 00:11:02,662 --> 00:11:04,956 I meet people and they're telling me about, 294 00:11:04,998 --> 00:11:06,666 like, things that I went through. 295 00:11:06,708 --> 00:11:08,335 And I'm just telling them, like, "This is what I did." 296 00:11:08,376 --> 00:11:10,712 But the interesting thing is it's, like, 297 00:11:10,754 --> 00:11:13,548 it got me to a place where 298 00:11:13,590 --> 00:11:16,509 my lowest point is so much higher 299 00:11:16,551 --> 00:11:19,512 than what my lowest point used to be. 300 00:11:19,554 --> 00:11:21,514 But I will say I'm not a person 301 00:11:21,556 --> 00:11:22,807 that currently, to this day, 302 00:11:22,849 --> 00:11:24,184 just wakes up and meditates every day. 303 00:11:24,225 --> 00:11:25,643 I think about, like, Rick Rubin. 304 00:11:25,685 --> 00:11:27,020 When I watch these Rick Rubin interviews 305 00:11:27,062 --> 00:11:29,564 and he just feels like just a sensei master. 306 00:11:29,606 --> 00:11:31,691 And I just imagine him waking up every day 307 00:11:31,733 --> 00:11:33,735 and just meditating three times a day. 308 00:11:33,777 --> 00:11:36,321 And maybe he doesn't, but it's my impression of him. 309 00:11:36,363 --> 00:11:37,781 And I realized that, like, oh, man, 310 00:11:37,822 --> 00:11:39,282 people probably have that impression about me, 311 00:11:39,324 --> 00:11:40,658 because I've spoken about it. 312 00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:41,868 They probably think I'm on some, like... 313 00:11:41,910 --> 00:11:43,870 But the truth is, no. It's like, 314 00:11:43,912 --> 00:11:46,915 I use meditation now as, like -- 315 00:11:46,956 --> 00:11:49,834 I say as, like, an emergency "break glass" thing 316 00:11:49,876 --> 00:11:51,878 where it's like, if I'm feeling high anxiety, 317 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:53,630 you know what I mean, for whatever is happening 318 00:11:53,672 --> 00:11:55,715 in my life, which is not often right now, 319 00:11:55,757 --> 00:11:57,884 but if something's coming up where it's like, "Phew, 320 00:11:57,926 --> 00:11:59,719 I'm feeling anxiety about this," like, this is -- 321 00:11:59,761 --> 00:12:00,970 then I'll use it as, like, 322 00:12:01,012 --> 00:12:02,555 "Let me get back to a balanced state." 323 00:12:02,597 --> 00:12:04,057 But I'm not currently in a space where it's, like, 324 00:12:04,099 --> 00:12:06,101 I'm meditating every day, boom-boom-boom. No. 325 00:12:06,142 --> 00:12:08,395 I feel like that year or two-year stretch 326 00:12:08,436 --> 00:12:12,857 that I was on it, it gave me a nice, like, 327 00:12:12,899 --> 00:12:14,442 boost in my life to where it's, like, 328 00:12:14,484 --> 00:12:17,070 now I'm kind of coasting. And I do, though, believe that, 329 00:12:17,112 --> 00:12:19,072 even in this state right now that I'm in, 330 00:12:19,114 --> 00:12:21,741 if I meditated every day, like, I feel like I'd be a superhero. 331 00:12:21,783 --> 00:12:23,326 You know what I mean? 'Cause I feel like everything 332 00:12:23,368 --> 00:12:25,578 would just -- phew, phew! -- off me like water. 333 00:12:25,620 --> 00:12:28,498 -It's repelling. -Yes, bro. Yes. 334 00:12:28,540 --> 00:12:30,458 -When you say anxiety, do you feel like -- 335 00:12:30,500 --> 00:12:31,626 is the anxiety from the business? 336 00:12:31,668 --> 00:12:33,753 Is the anxiety from the pressure 337 00:12:33,795 --> 00:12:35,505 that you sometimes put on yourself? 338 00:12:35,547 --> 00:12:37,465 Is the anxiety from household? 339 00:12:37,507 --> 00:12:38,967 Family? Wife? Where's the anxiety from? 340 00:12:39,009 --> 00:12:42,262 -Like, when I say emergency "break glass" situation, 341 00:12:42,303 --> 00:12:44,931 like, there was a time when 342 00:12:44,973 --> 00:12:48,935 my first child was gonna be born, 343 00:12:48,977 --> 00:12:50,937 and the anxiety I felt was more like -- 344 00:12:50,979 --> 00:12:52,689 it wasn't, like, "Oh, I'm about to have a kid." 345 00:12:52,731 --> 00:12:54,107 But it was probably the culmination of all these things, 346 00:12:54,149 --> 00:12:57,235 but I was also finishing an album at that time. 347 00:12:57,277 --> 00:13:00,447 We was doing the classes, trying to learn about, like, 348 00:13:00,488 --> 00:13:01,781 the birthing process and all of this. 349 00:13:01,823 --> 00:13:03,241 Boom, boom, boom. So it was, like -- 350 00:13:03,283 --> 00:13:04,826 it was one of those moments when everything was 351 00:13:04,868 --> 00:13:08,246 kind of, like, a lot was happening, 352 00:13:08,288 --> 00:13:11,207 and that was, like, a moment where I just needed to -- 353 00:13:11,249 --> 00:13:13,668 you know, before one of the classes that we had, 354 00:13:13,710 --> 00:13:14,794 which I loved those classes that we took. 355 00:13:14,836 --> 00:13:16,129 It was called Hypnobabies. 356 00:13:16,171 --> 00:13:17,630 I recommend that for anybody that's -- 357 00:13:17,672 --> 00:13:18,882 -Hypno? -Hypnobabies. 358 00:13:18,923 --> 00:13:20,342 -Wow. Okay. -Basically, it's like 359 00:13:20,383 --> 00:13:23,803 a birthing class that -- you know, first of all, 360 00:13:23,845 --> 00:13:26,056 I think the first, most important thing it does 361 00:13:26,097 --> 00:13:32,062 is it prepares both parents for the realities or, 362 00:13:32,103 --> 00:13:33,813 like, the information that you might need 363 00:13:33,855 --> 00:13:35,273 to arm yourself when you go into the hospital -- 364 00:13:35,315 --> 00:13:38,610 -I didn't know that shit until my babies came out. 365 00:13:38,651 --> 00:13:40,278 Was a shit show around here. 366 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:41,654 -It had me fully prepared. 367 00:13:41,696 --> 00:13:42,906 -Yeah. I wasn't. -Yeah. 368 00:13:42,947 --> 00:13:44,366 -I just said, "I'll figure it out." 369 00:13:44,407 --> 00:13:46,451 They came out. A lot of shit happened fast, too. 370 00:13:46,493 --> 00:13:47,660 -It worked though, right? 371 00:13:47,702 --> 00:13:48,995 -I was at the doctor all the time. 372 00:13:49,037 --> 00:13:50,455 The baby coughing -- "Doc, what's happening?" 373 00:13:50,497 --> 00:13:51,873 "It's just a cough." "All right." 374 00:13:51,915 --> 00:13:53,458 -No, no, no, no. Not that, though. Not that. 375 00:13:53,500 --> 00:13:55,168 -I'm telling you it was for me. -Okay. All right, man. 376 00:13:55,210 --> 00:13:57,921 -I was that guy. -No, me too, though, by the way. 377 00:13:57,962 --> 00:13:59,339 This is just... -Everything scared me. 378 00:13:59,381 --> 00:14:01,174 -...the birthing process. After that baby's out, 379 00:14:01,216 --> 00:14:03,343 they don't got nothing for you. -Okay. This was like... 380 00:14:03,385 --> 00:14:06,554 -They have nothing to offer you. -...going through the course 381 00:14:06,596 --> 00:14:08,807 of the nine months and, you know -- 382 00:14:08,848 --> 00:14:11,976 -When that water breaks, 383 00:14:12,018 --> 00:14:13,269 this is what you need to look out for. 384 00:14:13,311 --> 00:14:14,562 -Were you there when the water broke? 385 00:14:14,604 --> 00:14:16,147 -Yeah! -I was downstairs. 386 00:14:16,189 --> 00:14:18,358 -Oh, I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. 387 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,110 No, no, no, I didn't see it like a movie, by the way. 388 00:14:20,151 --> 00:14:21,861 -Okay. I was about to say -- -No, no, no. 389 00:14:21,903 --> 00:14:23,822 It wasn't no movie moment. -It broke! Ah, shit! 390 00:14:23,863 --> 00:14:25,365 -No, no, no. -Got you! 391 00:14:25,407 --> 00:14:27,158 -No. It was uneventful. It's not like the movies. 392 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:28,993 You know, in the movies you make it feel like it's a -- 393 00:14:29,035 --> 00:14:31,204 like, some sort of, like, "Pssshhh!" 394 00:14:31,246 --> 00:14:33,289 -Yeah. Then you gotta, "I'll get the car!" 395 00:14:33,331 --> 00:14:35,208 -No. It wasn't like that. -"I'll get the car! 396 00:14:35,250 --> 00:14:36,251 You got the bag?" 397 00:14:36,292 --> 00:14:37,919 "It's already packed by the door!" 398 00:14:37,961 --> 00:14:39,170 -Yeah. None of that. -None of that shit happened. 399 00:14:39,212 --> 00:14:40,714 -No, no, no. -I was really downstairs. 400 00:14:40,755 --> 00:14:44,300 "Babe, my water broke!" "Huh?! 401 00:14:44,342 --> 00:14:47,804 Huh?!" Yeah. That's where I was. I love that you are -- 402 00:14:47,846 --> 00:14:49,723 that you are this deep into it, though. 403 00:14:49,764 --> 00:14:52,600 I love, like, that you are this focused. 404 00:14:52,642 --> 00:14:54,394 I love that you are this in tune. 405 00:14:54,436 --> 00:14:55,895 Amazing! But we gotta take a beat. 406 00:14:55,937 --> 00:14:57,689 We gotta take a beat because I gotta pay bills. 407 00:14:57,731 --> 00:15:00,233 Guys, we'll be right back with more "Hart to Heart" 408 00:15:00,275 --> 00:15:02,068 and J. Cole after this. 409 00:15:02,110 --> 00:15:08,992 ** 410 00:15:12,579 --> 00:15:17,334 ** 411 00:15:17,375 --> 00:15:20,462 -And we are back. This is still "Hart to Heart." 412 00:15:20,503 --> 00:15:22,505 And that is still J. Cole. 413 00:15:22,547 --> 00:15:25,633 Um, what I want to say now, though, that I really love is, 414 00:15:25,675 --> 00:15:28,803 like, there was a time when you weren't getting your just due. 415 00:15:28,845 --> 00:15:30,430 There was a time where the conversation 416 00:15:30,472 --> 00:15:33,058 attached to your name wasn't what you wanted it to be, 417 00:15:33,099 --> 00:15:34,726 wasn't what you thought it should be. 418 00:15:34,768 --> 00:15:37,687 And then there's a shift, there's a narrative, 419 00:15:37,729 --> 00:15:42,567 there's a change, and J. Cole, as a rapper, 420 00:15:42,609 --> 00:15:44,110 is mentioned as an artist, 421 00:15:44,152 --> 00:15:48,323 is mentioned as one of our best rappers of our time. 422 00:15:48,365 --> 00:15:52,744 Your cult following is like none other. 423 00:15:52,786 --> 00:15:55,246 Your fans are bigger than just, like, fans. 424 00:15:55,288 --> 00:16:00,293 Like, the idea of you releasing, the idea of you showing up, 425 00:16:00,335 --> 00:16:02,128 they come out in droves. 426 00:16:02,170 --> 00:16:07,258 What is your feeling now with your place in the business, 427 00:16:07,300 --> 00:16:09,219 with your place in the conversation? 428 00:16:09,260 --> 00:16:12,055 Like, have you taken that in completely? 429 00:16:12,097 --> 00:16:14,641 And do you now realize what you mean to rap 430 00:16:14,683 --> 00:16:16,226 and where you stand in rap? 431 00:16:16,267 --> 00:16:17,852 -I'm not gonna say I realize it 'cause 432 00:16:17,894 --> 00:16:21,564 I'm more disconnected than I was before. 433 00:16:21,606 --> 00:16:23,733 -Mm-hmm. -But I'm appreciative 434 00:16:23,775 --> 00:16:26,194 and I'm grateful. 435 00:16:26,236 --> 00:16:31,366 -And disconnected because you don't want that to sway a... 436 00:16:31,408 --> 00:16:34,828 anticipated feeling, like, expectation. 437 00:16:34,869 --> 00:16:36,913 In other words, like, you're disconnected where it's like, 438 00:16:36,955 --> 00:16:38,915 "Okay, I'll get used to that and I expect that. 439 00:16:38,957 --> 00:16:40,166 And then when I don't hear it, 440 00:16:40,208 --> 00:16:42,002 it could act as a trigger of old." 441 00:16:42,043 --> 00:16:44,045 So the disconnection allows you to be removed from that. 442 00:16:44,087 --> 00:16:45,922 -I think it's just more of a natural disconnection 443 00:16:45,964 --> 00:16:49,384 of, man, I'm -- I'm fulfilled. -Got it. 444 00:16:49,426 --> 00:16:53,221 -I'm fulfilled with the experience I've had, 445 00:16:53,263 --> 00:16:55,181 what I've done, what I'm doing. 446 00:16:55,223 --> 00:16:57,308 I'm fulfilled with the reaction that I get. 447 00:16:57,350 --> 00:17:00,687 You know what I mean? So it's, like, a -- 448 00:17:00,729 --> 00:17:04,733 when you ask, like, what do I feel about my place, 449 00:17:04,774 --> 00:17:07,110 it's grateful. 450 00:17:07,152 --> 00:17:11,072 And where you, like -- 451 00:17:11,114 --> 00:17:12,574 'cause when I was younger, it was all about, 452 00:17:12,615 --> 00:17:14,117 "Man, I want -- when that go down" -- 453 00:17:14,159 --> 00:17:15,577 I don't know if it's like this for comedy. 454 00:17:15,618 --> 00:17:19,080 -"When that go down, I want to be on the list. 455 00:17:19,122 --> 00:17:21,916 I want to be at the top, boom, boom. 456 00:17:21,958 --> 00:17:23,418 Know what I mean? -Yes. 457 00:17:23,460 --> 00:17:25,837 -And as I'm older now, it's like that feeling -- 458 00:17:25,879 --> 00:17:27,881 are those always still gonna be there? 459 00:17:27,922 --> 00:17:29,132 It's much more peaceful. 460 00:17:29,174 --> 00:17:31,384 It's much more, like, understanding. 461 00:17:31,426 --> 00:17:33,595 Like, yo, back then there was -- 462 00:17:33,636 --> 00:17:38,016 there was a thought that you could be unanimous, 463 00:17:38,058 --> 00:17:40,435 that you could, hands down, unanimous. 464 00:17:40,477 --> 00:17:41,686 Everybody would know. 465 00:17:41,728 --> 00:17:43,438 In your mind -- in my mind, back in the day, 466 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:45,482 I'm like, everybody know Tupac is the best rapper, right? 467 00:17:45,523 --> 00:17:47,275 Or then, at certain points, like, everybody know 468 00:17:47,317 --> 00:17:48,985 Jay-Z is the best rapper, right? 469 00:17:49,027 --> 00:17:50,612 There was a feeling that this was attainable. 470 00:17:50,653 --> 00:17:52,614 But then you realize that, like, actually, no. 471 00:17:52,655 --> 00:17:54,115 Those guys never had it either. 472 00:17:54,157 --> 00:17:55,450 You know what I mean? It's not actually possible. 473 00:17:55,492 --> 00:17:57,327 -It's not. -You know, even in comedy, 474 00:17:57,369 --> 00:17:59,287 somebody gonna say Eddie Murphy is the greatest of all time. 475 00:17:59,329 --> 00:18:01,373 Somebody gonna say, "What? Dave Chappelle, Richard Pryor. 476 00:18:01,414 --> 00:18:03,375 He ain't better than Richard Pryor." 477 00:18:03,416 --> 00:18:05,585 "Oh, Richard Pryor ain't got nothing on X, Y, Z." 478 00:18:05,627 --> 00:18:07,128 So it's, like, -- 479 00:18:07,170 --> 00:18:11,925 once I realized that that wasn't possible, it -- 480 00:18:11,966 --> 00:18:13,301 or maybe the other thing came first. 481 00:18:13,343 --> 00:18:15,428 Maybe, like, I just got comfortable 482 00:18:15,470 --> 00:18:17,305 in who I was and what I was doing. 483 00:18:17,347 --> 00:18:19,182 And then I realized, like, oh, that wasn't attainable either. 484 00:18:19,224 --> 00:18:21,518 But, anyways, that why I said it's, like, yo, man, 485 00:18:21,559 --> 00:18:23,269 I'm just happy to be talkin', man. 486 00:18:23,311 --> 00:18:24,938 Y'all, I appreciate that y'all talking about it, but -- 487 00:18:24,979 --> 00:18:27,065 -But you're in the conversation. -Well, I'm in the conversation. 488 00:18:27,107 --> 00:18:29,067 You put me over there? Cool. You put me up there? 489 00:18:29,109 --> 00:18:31,486 That's amazing. -You know where I got to, 490 00:18:31,528 --> 00:18:34,614 or where I'm at now? I love the fact 491 00:18:34,656 --> 00:18:38,576 that I've been able to do the things that I've done. 492 00:18:38,618 --> 00:18:41,830 There was a moment where I was doing sitcoms. 493 00:18:41,871 --> 00:18:43,498 Right? These are, like, pilots. 494 00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:47,210 So every sitcom you're doing, you want this to get picked up. 495 00:18:47,252 --> 00:18:50,005 Right? There was a moment where I did so many pilots 496 00:18:50,046 --> 00:18:51,297 that didn't get picked up. 497 00:18:51,339 --> 00:18:53,174 One day -- I'll never forget this shit. 498 00:18:53,216 --> 00:18:56,511 I was home and I was, like, "It's me." 499 00:18:56,553 --> 00:18:58,346 -[ Laughs ] 500 00:18:58,388 --> 00:19:02,851 -I said, "These shows got one common denominator, 501 00:19:02,892 --> 00:19:04,436 and it's me." 502 00:19:04,477 --> 00:19:08,565 [ Both laugh ] 503 00:19:08,606 --> 00:19:11,609 These people don't want me to make it. 504 00:19:11,651 --> 00:19:13,236 I was, like -- I was on number nine. 505 00:19:13,278 --> 00:19:15,196 And I remember John Stamos -- 506 00:19:15,238 --> 00:19:17,532 This is a true story. Shout out to John Stamos. 507 00:19:17,574 --> 00:19:21,327 John Stamos -- he had a show called "Jake in Progress." 508 00:19:21,369 --> 00:19:23,329 "Jake in Progress" was on the air. 509 00:19:23,371 --> 00:19:26,166 Right? They were going into, like, another season. 510 00:19:26,207 --> 00:19:28,460 This is, like, the show's doing well. 511 00:19:28,501 --> 00:19:32,547 John Stamos is, like, "I really like this guy Kevin Hart." 512 00:19:32,589 --> 00:19:33,757 They had a part. 513 00:19:33,798 --> 00:19:37,135 Man, they signed me on to do five episodes. 514 00:19:37,177 --> 00:19:39,304 I did two episodes and the show got cancelled. 515 00:19:39,346 --> 00:19:41,556 And I said, "Fuck this shit! 516 00:19:41,598 --> 00:19:44,559 Fuck this shit, man." 517 00:19:44,601 --> 00:19:45,852 -[ Laughs ] 518 00:19:45,894 --> 00:19:47,228 -"It's me, man!" 519 00:19:47,270 --> 00:19:49,189 I remember, literally, having that conversation. 520 00:19:49,230 --> 00:19:51,775 And I had to check myself and stay, like -- 521 00:19:51,816 --> 00:19:53,318 stay on the course. 522 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:56,488 But what I eventually realized, 523 00:19:56,529 --> 00:20:00,450 and I was, like, man, like, ultimately you start competing 524 00:20:00,492 --> 00:20:02,285 with the versions of your success 525 00:20:02,327 --> 00:20:04,579 that you're trying to achieve again. 526 00:20:04,621 --> 00:20:07,248 -Hoo! -And when you are shooting 527 00:20:07,290 --> 00:20:11,586 out that spaceship and you start going real fast, 528 00:20:11,628 --> 00:20:13,630 as you keep going up, 529 00:20:13,672 --> 00:20:17,425 you're using your rise as your landmark. 530 00:20:17,467 --> 00:20:18,927 And some of those things you're not gonna 531 00:20:18,968 --> 00:20:20,428 be able to do again. -That's a bar. 532 00:20:20,470 --> 00:20:23,473 -And once I got that down, I think the pressure -- 533 00:20:23,515 --> 00:20:25,850 the pressure started to be removed a little bit 534 00:20:25,892 --> 00:20:27,310 because it was box office -- I put out a movie. 535 00:20:27,352 --> 00:20:28,770 It's gotta go number one. -Mm-hmm. 536 00:20:28,812 --> 00:20:30,605 -If we don't go to number one, then it's over. 537 00:20:30,647 --> 00:20:32,273 Fuck. Okay. If I'm going on tour. 538 00:20:32,315 --> 00:20:34,401 If I don't sell out, it's done. I gotta sell out. 539 00:20:34,442 --> 00:20:36,611 If I don't sell out on a tour, what am I gonna do now? 540 00:20:36,653 --> 00:20:38,321 Fuck. I gotta got out and promote. 541 00:20:38,363 --> 00:20:40,115 I gotta promote the movies. I gotta promote the tour. 542 00:20:40,156 --> 00:20:41,783 I gotta do it at the highest level. 543 00:20:41,825 --> 00:20:43,451 If I don't do it at the highest level, what's gonna happen? 544 00:20:43,493 --> 00:20:44,786 I gotta make sure I'm in front of the people. 545 00:20:44,828 --> 00:20:46,371 Like, I started to become a fucking computer, 546 00:20:46,413 --> 00:20:48,456 and then, after that, I settled down. 547 00:20:48,498 --> 00:20:50,375 -Mm-hmm. -And I don't -- 548 00:20:50,417 --> 00:20:53,878 I don't think I've reached the place of solace 549 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:55,380 that you're talking about. 550 00:20:55,422 --> 00:20:57,590 Like, hearing you talk, like, literally you notice 551 00:20:57,632 --> 00:20:59,551 I was listening more than I was talking 552 00:20:59,592 --> 00:21:02,971 because I haven't done that. I haven't tried it. 553 00:21:03,013 --> 00:21:06,307 I've heard about it a lot, but what you're talking about 554 00:21:06,349 --> 00:21:11,187 is just finding that thing that makes you go, 555 00:21:11,229 --> 00:21:13,231 "I'm good and I'm clear. 556 00:21:13,273 --> 00:21:15,275 This noise don't matter." Right? 557 00:21:15,316 --> 00:21:17,736 And I think I still let some noise in. 558 00:21:17,777 --> 00:21:19,446 You've also, dude, 559 00:21:19,487 --> 00:21:21,406 you've made sure your personal life has been just that. 560 00:21:21,448 --> 00:21:22,991 It's your personal life. Right? 561 00:21:23,033 --> 00:21:26,536 I mean, the idea of family, the idea of building home, 562 00:21:26,578 --> 00:21:29,039 home town. Right? "This is where I'm from. 563 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,125 This is where I'm true to." 564 00:21:32,167 --> 00:21:34,294 That has been intentional. 565 00:21:34,336 --> 00:21:37,339 That acts as an example to people like me 566 00:21:37,380 --> 00:21:39,090 who have been an open book, 567 00:21:39,132 --> 00:21:40,675 who has forever been an open book. 568 00:21:40,717 --> 00:21:45,013 Right? How much does your family appreciate you 569 00:21:45,055 --> 00:21:46,348 for that level of commitment? 570 00:21:46,389 --> 00:21:47,932 Like, is that something that's noticed, 571 00:21:47,974 --> 00:21:50,685 or is it not even discussed? 572 00:21:50,727 --> 00:21:54,856 -Nah. It's not discussed. I think... 573 00:21:54,898 --> 00:21:56,733 it's just done out of -- you know what I mean? 574 00:21:56,775 --> 00:21:58,610 It's just out of protection where it's like, 575 00:21:58,651 --> 00:22:00,236 "Yo, that's it, bro." It's like, "Bro, this thing 576 00:22:00,278 --> 00:22:02,072 over here is sacred." You know what I mean? 577 00:22:02,113 --> 00:22:04,366 So it's like, I don't need no other... 578 00:22:04,407 --> 00:22:08,286 -I love that. -...outside... 579 00:22:08,328 --> 00:22:11,373 opinions, voices, boom-boom. No. I'm good. 580 00:22:11,414 --> 00:22:14,542 -I love how you have navigated that. 581 00:22:14,584 --> 00:22:19,214 I love how when you're gone, you're gone. 582 00:22:19,255 --> 00:22:21,466 And that's something that I'm envious of. 583 00:22:21,508 --> 00:22:23,385 Right? Because, you know, I'm the opposite. 584 00:22:23,426 --> 00:22:27,389 I'm in your face. I'm I'm work. I'm business. 585 00:22:27,430 --> 00:22:31,059 I'm 100% on all the time. 586 00:22:31,101 --> 00:22:35,397 The one of just the family time, gonna step away or not now -- 587 00:22:35,438 --> 00:22:37,649 I don't have those off buttons 588 00:22:37,691 --> 00:22:39,609 to where they don't come off like an asshole. 589 00:22:39,651 --> 00:22:41,403 Like, when I'm saying, "Yo, I don't want to be bothered," 590 00:22:41,444 --> 00:22:42,862 it comes off like an asshole. 591 00:22:42,904 --> 00:22:44,155 It's, like, what? You! 592 00:22:44,197 --> 00:22:46,408 But you don't move like that, 593 00:22:46,449 --> 00:22:48,993 so people more say what's up and they understand. 594 00:22:49,035 --> 00:22:51,079 -Yeah. That's true. -And it don't hurt that you 595 00:22:51,121 --> 00:22:53,081 fucking 6'20". 596 00:22:53,123 --> 00:22:55,834 Like, you ain't a little dude. 597 00:22:55,875 --> 00:22:57,585 They come up to me, these motherfuckers 598 00:22:57,627 --> 00:22:59,754 want to touch my neck, fuckin' feel my face. 599 00:22:59,796 --> 00:23:01,381 "What up, Kev?" "Bitch, don't touch my face." 600 00:23:01,423 --> 00:23:03,383 I had to tell somebody that before. 601 00:23:03,425 --> 00:23:04,718 Motherfucker touched my cheek, man. 602 00:23:04,759 --> 00:23:06,761 I'm, like, "Bitch, don't touch my face." 603 00:23:06,803 --> 00:23:08,430 I was by myself so I didn't say "bitch," 604 00:23:08,471 --> 00:23:09,848 but I definitely was a little offended 605 00:23:09,889 --> 00:23:12,475 that he rubbed my fucking cheek. -That's crazy. 606 00:23:12,517 --> 00:23:14,060 -Guys, we're gonna take a quick break. 607 00:23:14,102 --> 00:23:15,812 We'll be right back with more "Hart to Heart" after this. 608 00:23:15,854 --> 00:23:22,360 ** 609 00:23:25,864 --> 00:23:30,410 ** 610 00:23:30,452 --> 00:23:32,454 -We're back. This is still "Hart to Heart," 611 00:23:32,495 --> 00:23:34,164 and that's J. Cole. 612 00:23:34,205 --> 00:23:36,791 Let's go back into you and your loves, your hobbies. 613 00:23:36,833 --> 00:23:38,376 Basketball. -Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. 614 00:23:38,418 --> 00:23:39,836 -What is it, J.? -I mean, you know what it is. 615 00:23:39,878 --> 00:23:41,296 -I know what it is. 616 00:23:41,338 --> 00:23:46,176 Is it the idea of, "I want to be in the NBA"? 617 00:23:46,217 --> 00:23:51,389 Is it, "Basketball is forever my happy, will be my happy"? 618 00:23:51,431 --> 00:23:53,933 What is basketball to you? 619 00:23:53,975 --> 00:23:57,562 -Well, I mean, it's... 620 00:23:57,604 --> 00:23:59,147 maybe a first love. You know? 621 00:23:59,189 --> 00:24:00,690 I mean, I never took it as serious as I took music. 622 00:24:00,732 --> 00:24:02,650 Like, I didn't -- I did at one point, 623 00:24:02,692 --> 00:24:05,528 but I took music first. I did the work in music first. 624 00:24:05,570 --> 00:24:06,946 I did the work in basketball too late. 625 00:24:06,988 --> 00:24:08,698 I didn't know. I didn't have anybody telling me 626 00:24:08,740 --> 00:24:10,241 when was a kid, "Bro, you're trash. 627 00:24:10,283 --> 00:24:11,701 You should probably work a little harder." 628 00:24:11,743 --> 00:24:12,994 I didn't know I was trash. That was the problem 629 00:24:13,036 --> 00:24:14,746 with basketball. But I did love it so much. 630 00:24:14,788 --> 00:24:16,539 -You see my high school tape? I didn't know either 631 00:24:16,581 --> 00:24:18,249 till they showed that tape. -Oh, I did see that! 632 00:24:18,291 --> 00:24:19,542 -Did you see my high school tape? 633 00:24:19,584 --> 00:24:20,794 -Yo! That was crazy! 634 00:24:20,835 --> 00:24:22,379 -Yeah, I thought I was good until -- 635 00:24:22,420 --> 00:24:23,713 -They showed the lowlights, bro. 636 00:24:23,755 --> 00:24:25,548 -Ain't that a bitch? -Yeah. It was crazy. 637 00:24:25,590 --> 00:24:27,342 -Put out all my fuckin' low points. 638 00:24:27,384 --> 00:24:29,052 Didn't put a jump shot in there or nothin'. 639 00:24:29,094 --> 00:24:31,680 -I knew you could hoop, though. -Not according to that video. 640 00:24:31,721 --> 00:24:33,306 -I know, I know. -Thanks, Coach Jones, 641 00:24:33,348 --> 00:24:36,810 son of a bitch. I ain't never seen a more 642 00:24:36,851 --> 00:24:39,229 hurtful compilation in my goddamn life. 643 00:24:39,270 --> 00:24:40,689 Been bad, real bad. 644 00:24:40,730 --> 00:24:42,691 But you did -- late bloomer you may have been, 645 00:24:42,732 --> 00:24:45,568 but at some point in time you had to put a commitment into it 646 00:24:45,610 --> 00:24:46,945 for you to go and pursue it. 647 00:24:46,986 --> 00:24:50,115 -Basically, I think I was always a -- 648 00:24:50,156 --> 00:24:53,326 like, I was always highly competitive with it and I was -- 649 00:24:53,368 --> 00:24:55,036 I had potential. 650 00:24:55,078 --> 00:24:57,580 I was good, but I was like untapped potential. 651 00:24:57,622 --> 00:25:02,293 And I always -- the minute I signed my deal, 652 00:25:02,335 --> 00:25:03,962 I promise you -- this is how crazy I am -- 653 00:25:04,004 --> 00:25:06,881 I'm like, the minute I signed my deal, I was 24. 654 00:25:06,923 --> 00:25:09,718 I was doing the math in my mind, like, all right. 655 00:25:09,759 --> 00:25:13,930 "If I could pop off in the next two years, I'll still be 26. 656 00:25:13,972 --> 00:25:16,057 Then I could probably really start training, 657 00:25:16,099 --> 00:25:19,436 go play overseas." I was already trying to see 658 00:25:19,477 --> 00:25:21,438 how I could make my way back into 659 00:25:21,479 --> 00:25:22,981 a professional basketball space, like -- 660 00:25:23,023 --> 00:25:25,483 and never had any reason to really think that. 661 00:25:25,525 --> 00:25:28,069 But, in my heart, I always thought, like, yo. 662 00:25:28,111 --> 00:25:29,779 If I could see myself 663 00:25:29,821 --> 00:25:31,990 being one of those dudes that went to a school, 664 00:25:32,032 --> 00:25:34,701 walked on, rode the bench for two, three years, 665 00:25:34,743 --> 00:25:36,369 but his senior year he got good enough to, 666 00:25:36,411 --> 00:25:38,747 like, get the coach's trust and get a little bit of clout, 667 00:25:38,788 --> 00:25:40,123 took it overseas -- boom, boom, boom. 668 00:25:40,165 --> 00:25:42,959 So I was doing the math. All of that to say, 669 00:25:43,001 --> 00:25:44,627 basketball for me, "A," is just a love. 670 00:25:44,669 --> 00:25:46,880 I play it, like, just regardless, consistently. 671 00:25:46,921 --> 00:25:50,342 But it's also a vessel for growth and getting better. 672 00:25:50,383 --> 00:25:53,094 I love being able to put in work 673 00:25:53,136 --> 00:25:55,347 and see the results. You know what I mean? 674 00:25:55,388 --> 00:25:56,806 I love being able to -- 675 00:25:56,848 --> 00:25:59,726 like, I love knowing that, right now, my game 676 00:25:59,768 --> 00:26:01,644 is miles beyond what it was four years ago, 677 00:26:01,686 --> 00:26:02,979 because I've been really training. 678 00:26:03,021 --> 00:26:05,648 I love to feel the growth, and I love my -- 679 00:26:05,690 --> 00:26:07,359 I had to restructure my whole jump shot. 680 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:08,568 So one is that. 681 00:26:08,610 --> 00:26:09,986 And then, three, it is also a place 682 00:26:10,028 --> 00:26:14,449 where I could allow myself to set an un-- 683 00:26:14,491 --> 00:26:18,036 super unrealistic goal in everybody else's eyes, 684 00:26:18,078 --> 00:26:19,662 and maybe even in my eyes at some point, 685 00:26:19,704 --> 00:26:20,997 but be, like, I don't care. 686 00:26:21,039 --> 00:26:22,499 I want to do this. You know what I mean? 687 00:26:22,540 --> 00:26:23,917 So it's, like, I need -- 688 00:26:23,958 --> 00:26:26,294 I thrive off of missions. You know what I mean? 689 00:26:26,336 --> 00:26:28,630 I thrive off of, like -- 690 00:26:28,672 --> 00:26:30,674 -I mean, that's an accomplishment, though. 691 00:26:30,715 --> 00:26:32,258 -For sure. -That's a major accomplishment. 692 00:26:32,300 --> 00:26:35,512 They don't let me play. Yeah. They don't let me play. 693 00:26:35,553 --> 00:26:36,846 -Yeah, they do, bro. Come on, man. 694 00:26:36,888 --> 00:26:38,973 -No, no. I don't -- I don't play. 695 00:26:39,015 --> 00:26:41,559 -If you come and ask, they gonna let you play. 696 00:26:41,601 --> 00:26:42,936 -Yeah. I don't -- I'm being honest with you. 697 00:26:42,977 --> 00:26:44,521 It ain't that. I played one pickup game 698 00:26:44,562 --> 00:26:46,898 and I felt they were too hard on me. 699 00:26:46,940 --> 00:26:48,525 -They were trying to prove a point? 700 00:26:48,566 --> 00:26:50,026 -Well, just little shit was happening. 701 00:26:50,068 --> 00:26:51,736 It was like, "Kev, you gotta fight through that pick." 702 00:26:51,778 --> 00:26:53,029 And I was like, "Bitch, you don't think I'm trying? 703 00:26:53,071 --> 00:26:54,698 You don't think I tried to do that?" 704 00:26:54,739 --> 00:26:56,366 You know, they throw me a jump shot. I'm open. 705 00:26:56,408 --> 00:26:57,701 I miss. "Kev, you gotta hit that." 706 00:26:57,742 --> 00:26:59,035 So you think I missed on purpose? 707 00:26:59,077 --> 00:27:01,037 It was a bunch of that shit where 708 00:27:01,079 --> 00:27:02,580 you think I'm out here fucking up... 709 00:27:02,622 --> 00:27:03,873 -On purpose. -...on purpose. 710 00:27:03,915 --> 00:27:05,625 You don't think I'm giving it my all? 711 00:27:05,667 --> 00:27:06,960 I'm taking these sneaks off right now. 712 00:27:07,002 --> 00:27:09,546 I ain't been back since. Now, I work out. 713 00:27:09,587 --> 00:27:11,089 I do the workouts with them. 714 00:27:11,131 --> 00:27:12,465 That's where I shine there. 715 00:27:12,507 --> 00:27:14,300 We could do workouts all day, but actually 716 00:27:14,342 --> 00:27:15,844 getting on the court and playing the game again? 717 00:27:15,885 --> 00:27:17,303 -Yeah. -I'm done with that. 718 00:27:17,345 --> 00:27:18,680 I don't want to do that. -Really? 719 00:27:18,722 --> 00:27:20,223 -Yeah. No, no. -I don't believe that, bro. 720 00:27:20,265 --> 00:27:22,726 -No, my fear is getting hurt. -Okay. There we go. 721 00:27:22,767 --> 00:27:24,060 I feel that. -My fear is getting hurt. 722 00:27:24,102 --> 00:27:25,562 -It ain't worth it. That shit sit you down 723 00:27:25,603 --> 00:27:27,188 for too long. -Yeah. Not like that. 724 00:27:27,230 --> 00:27:28,523 It's too much. It's too much. 725 00:27:28,565 --> 00:27:31,109 Like, you really into it. I don't have that. 726 00:27:31,151 --> 00:27:34,446 I don't have that for somebody to set a pick on me 727 00:27:34,487 --> 00:27:36,114 and not tell me it's coming. 728 00:27:36,156 --> 00:27:39,367 Like, I don't -- and, "Oh, Kev. Yo, you gotta look up." 729 00:27:39,409 --> 00:27:41,578 No, bitch, just don't do that to me. 730 00:27:41,619 --> 00:27:43,830 Like, I'm not there. Or foul me hard. 731 00:27:43,872 --> 00:27:45,790 Like, I'm not -- I quit. -It ain't that serious. 732 00:27:45,832 --> 00:27:47,250 -That's why I stopped boxing. 733 00:27:47,292 --> 00:27:48,752 I was boxing for a minute. -Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. 734 00:27:48,793 --> 00:27:50,086 -I was really boxing for a minute. 735 00:27:50,128 --> 00:27:51,921 -Yeah. That's right. -Motherfucker tapped me. 736 00:27:51,963 --> 00:27:54,841 Tapped me a couple of times. Lights changed in that bitch. 737 00:27:54,883 --> 00:27:56,092 I said, "Never again." -Yeah. 738 00:27:56,134 --> 00:27:58,011 -You know who else I sparred with 739 00:27:58,053 --> 00:28:00,430 that tapped me up a little bit? Usher. Man, Usher was hard. 740 00:28:00,472 --> 00:28:02,390 -Really? -Usher got hands. 741 00:28:02,432 --> 00:28:05,769 Usher got fuckin' hands. You fuck with Usher if you want. 742 00:28:05,810 --> 00:28:07,520 People out there, I'm telling you right now, 743 00:28:07,562 --> 00:28:09,647 fuck with Usher if you want. Usher got hands. 744 00:28:09,689 --> 00:28:10,815 -That's crazy. -And he dance. 745 00:28:10,857 --> 00:28:14,069 All that little shit -- all that? 746 00:28:14,110 --> 00:28:15,487 Yeah, all this shit here, you know, 747 00:28:15,528 --> 00:28:17,781 he think there's music playing. 748 00:28:17,822 --> 00:28:20,450 Usher got fuckin' hands. -Hits hard. 749 00:28:20,492 --> 00:28:22,243 -But Usher made me better, though. 750 00:28:22,285 --> 00:28:24,204 Me and Usher were just fuckin' around in Atlanta 751 00:28:24,245 --> 00:28:26,122 and he helped me out, but I was taking it serious for a minute. 752 00:28:26,164 --> 00:28:28,041 That was my basketball. 753 00:28:28,083 --> 00:28:29,626 Because I felt like you can always get better. 754 00:28:29,668 --> 00:28:31,628 And I did get good. I just stopped sparring. 755 00:28:31,670 --> 00:28:33,922 -I respect that. -I didn't want to spar anymore. 756 00:28:33,963 --> 00:28:35,465 Um, guys, we're gonna take a quick break. 757 00:28:35,507 --> 00:28:38,760 We'll be back with more "Hart to Heart" and J. Cole, 758 00:28:38,802 --> 00:28:41,054 a.k.a. Cole World, after this. 759 00:28:41,096 --> 00:28:47,060 ** 760 00:28:50,313 --> 00:28:55,026 ** 761 00:28:55,068 --> 00:28:57,445 -Welcome back to "Hart to Heart." 762 00:28:57,487 --> 00:28:58,863 This is still J. Cole, 763 00:28:58,905 --> 00:29:00,699 and the conversation is getting better. 764 00:29:00,740 --> 00:29:01,866 Let's talk about the artists today. 765 00:29:01,908 --> 00:29:03,493 Right? A lot of artists are out. 766 00:29:03,535 --> 00:29:07,997 New ones that are part of our generation that have grown. 767 00:29:08,039 --> 00:29:11,167 What is your mindset with the state of rap now? 768 00:29:11,209 --> 00:29:12,627 -I think it's fire. 769 00:29:12,669 --> 00:29:16,339 It's a whole different ball game. 770 00:29:16,381 --> 00:29:18,675 You know what I mean? Like, a whole different crop 771 00:29:18,717 --> 00:29:22,470 of young superstars and styles. 772 00:29:22,512 --> 00:29:24,723 You know what I mean? 773 00:29:24,764 --> 00:29:27,559 I think, to me, the -- 774 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,228 I've been feeling like this for, like, maybe a year or two. 775 00:29:30,270 --> 00:29:33,273 It's, like, I hate to say it, almost, 776 00:29:33,314 --> 00:29:35,150 'cause it sound like -- almost like pandering. 777 00:29:35,191 --> 00:29:37,861 But I really do think, like, man, 778 00:29:37,902 --> 00:29:39,988 there's a lot of fire female rappers. 779 00:29:40,030 --> 00:29:41,489 And it's, like, they -- I feel like they doing -- 780 00:29:41,531 --> 00:29:43,324 -Doesn't sound like pandering. It's the truth. 781 00:29:43,366 --> 00:29:45,118 -Yeah, I feel like they doing some of the most exciting -- 782 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:47,120 commercially, they're doing some of the most exciting -- 783 00:29:47,162 --> 00:29:48,830 they're giving us a lot of fire moments. 784 00:29:48,872 --> 00:29:50,373 You know what I mean? I feel like that's something 785 00:29:50,415 --> 00:29:53,126 that wasn't around when we -- -The volume was never -- 786 00:29:53,168 --> 00:29:55,628 -It was never like that. You always had one -- 787 00:29:55,670 --> 00:29:57,964 a Lil' Kim... -Eve, Lil' Kim, Foxy. 788 00:29:58,006 --> 00:30:00,091 -But there was always one -- there can never be more 789 00:30:00,133 --> 00:30:01,926 than one, almost, it felt like. Now it's, like, bro, 790 00:30:01,968 --> 00:30:03,928 we're gettin' moments and moments and moments. 791 00:30:03,970 --> 00:30:05,221 I think that's hard. 792 00:30:05,263 --> 00:30:06,973 -I just love to hear you say that, too. 793 00:30:07,015 --> 00:30:09,392 I mean, you know, I know that there's a conversation, 794 00:30:09,434 --> 00:30:13,938 of course, attached to female rappers, from female rappers, 795 00:30:13,980 --> 00:30:16,232 of just, like, wanting the support from many. 796 00:30:16,274 --> 00:30:19,611 And there's a thing of, like, "Well, you know, we are saying 797 00:30:19,652 --> 00:30:24,449 the same things that men saying. We don't want the feedback or -- 798 00:30:24,491 --> 00:30:27,243 you know, to receive backlash 799 00:30:27,285 --> 00:30:28,787 given that we're embracing the craft." 800 00:30:28,828 --> 00:30:31,206 So to hear you embrace what they're doing, 801 00:30:31,247 --> 00:30:33,208 I know, probably means the world to them. 802 00:30:33,249 --> 00:30:35,627 And, honestly, just to be current and see that -- 803 00:30:35,669 --> 00:30:38,713 like, that's something that, not being in the business, 804 00:30:38,755 --> 00:30:40,423 that I see. What about male? 805 00:30:40,465 --> 00:30:43,093 Where you at with the males that are out there? 806 00:30:43,134 --> 00:30:44,969 -Hard. -It's fuckin' a good time. 807 00:30:45,011 --> 00:30:48,348 -Mm-hmm. -And are you in -- 808 00:30:48,390 --> 00:30:50,016 I guess you'd say, are you in a space 809 00:30:50,058 --> 00:30:52,977 where you have acted as a voice, mentoring? 810 00:30:53,019 --> 00:30:54,938 Are you available? Not available? 811 00:30:54,979 --> 00:30:57,482 -I'm available. Like, I made the decision, 812 00:30:57,524 --> 00:30:59,234 like, maybe -- I don't know. 813 00:30:59,275 --> 00:31:00,944 I don't know how long ago it was now, 814 00:31:00,985 --> 00:31:02,821 but it was some years ago where I was, like -- 815 00:31:02,862 --> 00:31:05,073 'cause when I came in, I was very much, like... 816 00:31:05,115 --> 00:31:06,408 I was so competitive, it was, like, 817 00:31:06,449 --> 00:31:09,494 everything was close quarter. I'm, like, 818 00:31:09,536 --> 00:31:11,246 we're not friends, so it's, like, you know what I mean? 819 00:31:11,287 --> 00:31:13,998 I'm not gonna sit here and fake it, boom-boom. 820 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:15,458 I was very much on my own, 821 00:31:15,500 --> 00:31:17,002 trying to get to where I was trying to go. 822 00:31:17,043 --> 00:31:19,254 And I realized -- I was, like, "Oh." 823 00:31:19,295 --> 00:31:20,964 I turn around. I was, like, "Oh, wait!" 824 00:31:21,006 --> 00:31:24,009 Like, because I started thinking about the end. 825 00:31:24,050 --> 00:31:26,261 I started thinking about a day when it's, like, bruh, 826 00:31:26,302 --> 00:31:30,140 like I love doing this now, but I don't know if I want to -- 827 00:31:30,181 --> 00:31:32,267 I don't know if I want to be doing this forever. 828 00:31:32,308 --> 00:31:34,144 You know what I mean? So the thought 829 00:31:34,185 --> 00:31:36,104 of an ending started coming in my mind. 830 00:31:36,146 --> 00:31:38,398 So then the thought was, yo, 831 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:41,276 if you were to end and this was to be your last album, 832 00:31:41,317 --> 00:31:44,070 this would be your last boom-boom, like, 833 00:31:44,112 --> 00:31:45,864 who did you work with? 834 00:31:45,905 --> 00:31:47,157 Who did you form a bond with? 835 00:31:47,198 --> 00:31:49,200 Who did you have a lasting memory with? 836 00:31:49,242 --> 00:31:51,036 And that, like, kind of woke me up 837 00:31:51,077 --> 00:31:53,163 where it was, like, bro, like, you been too closed off. 838 00:31:53,204 --> 00:31:55,707 So I purposely just started opening myself up 839 00:31:55,749 --> 00:31:57,375 to when I meet somebody, 840 00:31:57,417 --> 00:31:59,377 you could have just came out, boom-boom, 841 00:31:59,419 --> 00:32:00,920 I meet with you, we have a good conversation, 842 00:32:00,962 --> 00:32:02,589 "Bro, take my line." Boom, boom. 843 00:32:02,630 --> 00:32:03,882 "Hit me." 844 00:32:03,923 --> 00:32:05,008 So it's, like, I've been that person 845 00:32:05,050 --> 00:32:07,510 way more over the past few years. 846 00:32:07,552 --> 00:32:09,471 "Yo, take my line. Hit me. Reach out." Boom, boom. 847 00:32:09,512 --> 00:32:12,432 So I've had great moments with artists. 848 00:32:12,474 --> 00:32:14,267 -And up-and-coming. I mean, it was dope -- 849 00:32:14,309 --> 00:32:16,144 there was something -- I think it's the small things 850 00:32:16,186 --> 00:32:17,562 that become the biggest, right, 851 00:32:17,604 --> 00:32:20,065 that show that you're in tune, more importantly, 852 00:32:20,106 --> 00:32:23,234 with understanding the hustle, understanding 853 00:32:23,276 --> 00:32:25,236 what an opportunity looks and feels like. 854 00:32:25,278 --> 00:32:27,947 And sometimes being a part of that springboard, 855 00:32:27,989 --> 00:32:32,077 launch pad, or whatever, speaks more volume 856 00:32:32,118 --> 00:32:35,747 than the money or financial backing. 857 00:32:35,789 --> 00:32:38,249 It's the effort of support. 858 00:32:38,291 --> 00:32:42,170 It's the idea being present with the now. 859 00:32:42,212 --> 00:32:45,215 And what have you learned business-wise, 860 00:32:45,256 --> 00:32:48,760 based off of where you were and where you now are? 861 00:32:48,802 --> 00:32:52,347 -I think I was doing this pretty early on. 862 00:32:52,389 --> 00:32:54,265 I'm not like a business -- I'm not gonna lie. 863 00:32:54,307 --> 00:32:57,185 Like, I don't view myself as, like, a business-savvy person, 864 00:32:57,227 --> 00:32:59,104 a businessman, necessarily. 865 00:32:59,145 --> 00:33:00,480 I think I would be capable 866 00:33:00,522 --> 00:33:02,982 if I had more time to, like, just focus on that 867 00:33:03,024 --> 00:33:04,734 or just if I cared to. You know what I mean? 868 00:33:04,776 --> 00:33:07,112 But I think the thing that I did 869 00:33:07,153 --> 00:33:12,200 that worked out for me best was I just stayed patient 870 00:33:12,242 --> 00:33:17,372 and I never took the -- 871 00:33:17,414 --> 00:33:19,457 you know, they dangle the carrot in front of your face. 872 00:33:19,499 --> 00:33:20,834 You know what I mean? Or whatever the thing is. 873 00:33:20,875 --> 00:33:22,168 Like, I never took the -- 874 00:33:22,210 --> 00:33:23,628 -Never went after the shiny object. 875 00:33:23,670 --> 00:33:28,091 -Exactly. Meaning, like, I just always felt like -- 876 00:33:28,133 --> 00:33:32,137 I was always hesitant to do what was being offered. 877 00:33:32,178 --> 00:33:33,972 You know what I mean? Although it might -- 878 00:33:34,014 --> 00:33:37,851 you know, for instance, I think, in rap -- 879 00:33:37,892 --> 00:33:39,227 or maybe it's music, period -- 880 00:33:39,269 --> 00:33:42,147 but, like, you have a successful album, 881 00:33:42,188 --> 00:33:44,024 they want to renegotiate right away. 882 00:33:44,065 --> 00:33:46,401 And the artist is, like, "Yeah, I'll do that," 883 00:33:46,443 --> 00:33:47,986 'cause you're gonna get another million. 884 00:33:48,028 --> 00:33:49,320 Boom, boom. They want to renegotiate, 885 00:33:49,362 --> 00:33:50,488 but it's, like, they're gonna tack on 886 00:33:50,530 --> 00:33:51,614 how many albums for that. 887 00:33:51,656 --> 00:33:53,158 So it's, like -- I was, like, oh, 888 00:33:53,199 --> 00:33:55,827 I got these successful albums, I'm gonna chill. 889 00:33:55,869 --> 00:33:58,538 I'm not gonna just renegotiate. I'm good on that. Boom, boom. 890 00:33:58,580 --> 00:34:00,206 And the longer I waited, 891 00:34:00,248 --> 00:34:03,251 the better my leverage played out for me when it came time. 892 00:34:03,293 --> 00:34:04,461 You know? 'Cause, like, now -- 893 00:34:04,502 --> 00:34:06,463 and I still apply that to this day. 894 00:34:06,504 --> 00:34:09,382 I'm, like, I'm very slow to do those types of deals 895 00:34:09,424 --> 00:34:12,177 'cause I'm, like, "Yo, I don't know yet. 896 00:34:12,218 --> 00:34:13,845 Let me feel this out." You know what I mean? 897 00:34:13,887 --> 00:34:16,222 Let me take a little more time. And the more time you take, 898 00:34:16,264 --> 00:34:19,017 the more the truth starts to show itself. 899 00:34:19,059 --> 00:34:21,019 You know what I mean? It's, like, so 900 00:34:21,061 --> 00:34:22,937 I can't really sit here like some mogul 901 00:34:22,979 --> 00:34:24,522 and give business advice 902 00:34:24,564 --> 00:34:27,442 'cause I don't think I run, like, the best business. 903 00:34:27,484 --> 00:34:29,235 I'm grateful to have great people around me, 904 00:34:29,277 --> 00:34:31,196 where it's like, my money good. Boom, boom. 905 00:34:31,237 --> 00:34:33,531 I mean, I'm smart with my money. You know what I mean? 906 00:34:33,573 --> 00:34:35,325 Like, I always -- and that just comes from fear. 907 00:34:35,367 --> 00:34:37,911 It's like, I don't never, ever want to be broke again. 908 00:34:37,952 --> 00:34:39,454 So I'm slow to, like -- 909 00:34:39,496 --> 00:34:43,583 -Frugal? Or just mindful? Which one? 910 00:34:43,625 --> 00:34:45,585 -What's the difference? -Well, frugal means 911 00:34:45,627 --> 00:34:47,587 you don't spend shit 'cause you're a cheap ass. 912 00:34:47,629 --> 00:34:50,215 Mindful means, yeah, I'll splurge. 913 00:34:50,256 --> 00:34:51,675 I'll treat myself. There's things that I do. 914 00:34:51,716 --> 00:34:54,094 -No, no. Yeah. I would definitely say mindful 915 00:34:54,135 --> 00:34:55,470 because I'll -- if it's the right thing, 916 00:34:55,512 --> 00:34:57,263 if it's a vacation, you know what I mean, 917 00:34:57,305 --> 00:34:58,932 family vacation -- boom, boom -- I'm gonna spend. 918 00:34:58,973 --> 00:35:01,393 You know what I mean? If it's a -- 919 00:35:01,434 --> 00:35:03,353 no, I'm not afraid to spend, 920 00:35:03,395 --> 00:35:06,064 but I'm mindful, where it's, like -- 921 00:35:06,106 --> 00:35:07,649 yeah, I think mindful is the word. 922 00:35:07,691 --> 00:35:09,651 You know what I mean? And it helps that it's like 923 00:35:09,693 --> 00:35:13,571 I don't -- I'm not -- I don't really -- 924 00:35:13,613 --> 00:35:18,868 like, I'm a hard person to get a gift for because I don't -- 925 00:35:18,910 --> 00:35:20,078 it's not like I have everything. 926 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:21,705 "I got every car." Boom, boom. 927 00:35:21,746 --> 00:35:24,499 It's, like, if you got me a car, I would be, like, 928 00:35:24,541 --> 00:35:26,418 "Oh, man, he got me a car." You know what I mean? 929 00:35:26,459 --> 00:35:28,586 Like, "He don't know I don't care about cars." 930 00:35:28,628 --> 00:35:30,630 -Don't really care about cars. -Yeah! Like, oh, man. 931 00:35:30,672 --> 00:35:33,466 You know what I mean? Like, "Oh, you got me a watch. 932 00:35:33,508 --> 00:35:36,094 Like, damn, this is an expensive watch. I appreciate it." 933 00:35:36,136 --> 00:35:37,721 -Just gonna put it up. -Yeah. 934 00:35:37,762 --> 00:35:38,888 In my heart, I'm like, "Bro." 935 00:35:38,930 --> 00:35:41,349 So it helps that I don't really -- 936 00:35:41,391 --> 00:35:42,934 That allows me to go a little harder over here. 937 00:35:42,976 --> 00:35:44,394 You know what I mean? -Yeah. I remember I caught you 938 00:35:44,436 --> 00:35:46,021 with the socks. You just had the -- 939 00:35:46,062 --> 00:35:47,814 remember you had the socks out of the pack. 940 00:35:47,856 --> 00:35:49,441 And I was like, "J., where -- there they go. 941 00:35:49,482 --> 00:35:52,694 Goddamn. Goddamn." -He was on me. 942 00:35:52,736 --> 00:35:54,863 You know, I think you all the -- -"Goddamn." 943 00:35:54,904 --> 00:35:58,783 -I wear these socks -- these, like, yellow-toe socks, bruh. 944 00:35:58,825 --> 00:36:01,244 I just had to take them off to keep it real, bro. 945 00:36:01,286 --> 00:36:03,621 Like, we was shooting a video. 946 00:36:03,663 --> 00:36:07,083 Kevin seen my socks, and he was like -- 947 00:36:07,125 --> 00:36:09,461 I remember you was like, 948 00:36:09,502 --> 00:36:12,172 "You know there's better socks, right?" 949 00:36:12,213 --> 00:36:13,757 -I remember I had assumed -- 950 00:36:13,798 --> 00:36:17,469 I looked at you because I was, like, "You know that..." 951 00:36:17,510 --> 00:36:19,179 -You know there's a higher level of socks. 952 00:36:19,220 --> 00:36:21,264 -"...you can get a better quality sock than that." 953 00:36:21,306 --> 00:36:23,641 Like, I know where that sock is from. 954 00:36:23,683 --> 00:36:25,143 You were like, "I like these." You just kept -- 955 00:36:25,185 --> 00:36:26,144 I remember you kept doing this -- 956 00:36:26,186 --> 00:36:27,312 "I like these." 957 00:36:27,354 --> 00:36:29,606 -[ Laughs ] -I was like... 958 00:36:29,647 --> 00:36:32,192 "Just so I know, those are the ones that are six in a pack, 959 00:36:32,233 --> 00:36:33,485 right?" You was like, "Think so." 960 00:36:33,526 --> 00:36:35,070 -Yeah. -What do you spend it on? 961 00:36:35,111 --> 00:36:36,821 What's a splurge? Okay. A vacation? What is the -- 962 00:36:36,863 --> 00:36:38,573 -That's probably my highest. -Is that it? 963 00:36:38,615 --> 00:36:40,742 -Ah...yeah. -Probably got, like, 964 00:36:40,784 --> 00:36:43,286 a stupid video game setup or some shit like that. 965 00:36:43,328 --> 00:36:44,537 -No, no, no. But I'm about to get that. 966 00:36:44,579 --> 00:36:46,790 I just got into the VR -- the VR joints. 967 00:36:46,831 --> 00:36:48,375 -I can see. I can see... -Whoo! I'm gonna set that up. 968 00:36:48,416 --> 00:36:49,876 -...go over to your house, you got a room. 969 00:36:49,918 --> 00:36:52,671 "Kev, put these on." It's like a suit. What else? 970 00:36:52,712 --> 00:36:54,839 There's gotta be something. What's the thing? 971 00:36:54,881 --> 00:36:56,633 -Um... 972 00:36:56,675 --> 00:36:59,010 Like, on a -- I mean, on a consistent basis? 973 00:36:59,052 --> 00:37:00,679 Or, like, I built a studio in the crib, 974 00:37:00,720 --> 00:37:02,263 but that was -- you know what I mean? 975 00:37:02,305 --> 00:37:03,848 -That's good. -I've got a gym at the crib. 976 00:37:03,890 --> 00:37:05,225 -That's good. All right. 977 00:37:05,266 --> 00:37:08,853 So those are, like, personal-growth spaces 978 00:37:08,895 --> 00:37:10,355 in both of them, things like that. 979 00:37:10,397 --> 00:37:11,523 You're investing in the things 980 00:37:11,564 --> 00:37:13,024 where you can get a return out of. 981 00:37:13,066 --> 00:37:14,567 The studio in the house is dope. 982 00:37:14,609 --> 00:37:16,361 It's like, whenever I want to go down, I can go down. 983 00:37:16,403 --> 00:37:17,445 I'm in the comfort of my home. 984 00:37:17,487 --> 00:37:19,030 -Yeah. -Gym in the house -- 985 00:37:19,072 --> 00:37:20,240 I can go work out whenever I want. 986 00:37:20,281 --> 00:37:21,616 -A basketball court. 987 00:37:21,658 --> 00:37:23,201 -A basketball court! Okay. That's dope. 988 00:37:23,243 --> 00:37:24,536 -Where I can just hoop anytime. -It's your love. 989 00:37:24,577 --> 00:37:26,162 -I ain't gotta drive to the Lifetime Fitness. 990 00:37:26,204 --> 00:37:28,164 I ain't gotta, boom-boom, ask somebody for a court. 991 00:37:28,206 --> 00:37:29,708 Exactly. -Okay. That makes sense. 992 00:37:29,749 --> 00:37:33,503 -Then vacations. I can't really sit here and -- 993 00:37:33,545 --> 00:37:36,673 -I like that. That makes sense. For the space of a -- 994 00:37:36,715 --> 00:37:38,049 -I wish I had something for you, though. 995 00:37:38,091 --> 00:37:39,467 I wish I had something dope. 996 00:37:39,509 --> 00:37:41,052 -I like that you don't, though. 997 00:37:41,094 --> 00:37:44,139 I like that you are you. -Sure. 998 00:37:44,180 --> 00:37:47,308 -I'm the jackass with the stupid hobbies 999 00:37:47,350 --> 00:37:49,394 and the things like that that I've got into. 1000 00:37:49,436 --> 00:37:50,854 Let's stop right here for a second. 1001 00:37:50,895 --> 00:37:52,480 We'll be right back with more "Hart to Heart" 1002 00:37:52,522 --> 00:37:54,566 and J. Cole after this. 1003 00:37:54,607 --> 00:37:59,154 ** 1004 00:38:03,450 --> 00:38:08,288 ** 1005 00:38:08,329 --> 00:38:09,664 -Welcome back. 1006 00:38:09,706 --> 00:38:11,458 This is "Hart to Heart" and I'm Kevin Hart. 1007 00:38:11,499 --> 00:38:13,376 That's J. Cole. 1008 00:38:13,418 --> 00:38:17,088 Do you want to do anything else at this point in your life? 1009 00:38:17,130 --> 00:38:20,675 I mean, music has provided you with such an opportunity, 1010 00:38:20,717 --> 00:38:22,135 such a door to success. 1011 00:38:22,177 --> 00:38:23,636 Is there anything else that J. Cole wants to do? 1012 00:38:23,678 --> 00:38:26,222 -Yeah. I mean, I have things in my mind 1013 00:38:26,264 --> 00:38:28,266 that it's, like, you know, I would like to get to that. 1014 00:38:28,308 --> 00:38:30,727 And that's why -- but I can't do it without putting music 1015 00:38:30,769 --> 00:38:32,312 all the way down first, which is, like, 1016 00:38:32,354 --> 00:38:35,023 I feel like I've got some unchecked boxes -- boom, boom. 1017 00:38:35,065 --> 00:38:36,900 But the minute I check these boxes, 1018 00:38:36,941 --> 00:38:38,777 then it's, like, yes, I can get to this. 1019 00:38:38,818 --> 00:38:41,404 And film, in some space, is included in that. 1020 00:38:41,446 --> 00:38:42,655 Not acting, necessarily, 'cause 1021 00:38:42,697 --> 00:38:45,658 I just never felt like that was me, 1022 00:38:45,700 --> 00:38:47,369 although what I do love about acting 1023 00:38:47,410 --> 00:38:50,330 and what has made me consider it is how, 1024 00:38:50,372 --> 00:38:52,791 similar to basketball or similar to golf or whatever, 1025 00:38:52,832 --> 00:38:55,043 it's, like, yo, you're gonna -- 1026 00:38:55,085 --> 00:38:57,712 you might have a little bit of natural knack for it, 1027 00:38:57,754 --> 00:38:58,922 but you're gonna be -- 1028 00:38:58,963 --> 00:39:00,965 you're gonna start here, very low. 1029 00:39:01,007 --> 00:39:03,551 And only through practice and discipline 1030 00:39:03,593 --> 00:39:05,178 and work will you get here. 1031 00:39:05,220 --> 00:39:08,765 And that interests me about acting, like, the craft of it. 1032 00:39:08,807 --> 00:39:11,935 But I never necessarily saw myself as that. 1033 00:39:11,976 --> 00:39:14,813 But the film world, in general, I love. 1034 00:39:14,854 --> 00:39:17,691 I love the film space. I love behind the camera. 1035 00:39:17,732 --> 00:39:19,150 I love the editing room. You know what I mean? 1036 00:39:19,192 --> 00:39:21,695 -By the way, I saw that when we did the video. 1037 00:39:21,736 --> 00:39:23,321 Like, you -- -Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. 1038 00:39:23,363 --> 00:39:26,199 -And you were directing and you were very much in tune 1039 00:39:26,241 --> 00:39:28,993 with the shots, what you wanted, how we want it to look. 1040 00:39:29,035 --> 00:39:31,705 I mean, that's the artistry. Like, as an artist -- 1041 00:39:31,746 --> 00:39:34,708 and what you'll find, even in the space of art, like, 1042 00:39:34,749 --> 00:39:36,710 when you just start to think about artistry, 1043 00:39:36,751 --> 00:39:39,295 people's vision, how the vision came to life, 1044 00:39:39,337 --> 00:39:41,172 what they want people to take with them from the vision, 1045 00:39:41,214 --> 00:39:44,801 what it means, all of that shit start to play into a major part. 1046 00:39:44,843 --> 00:39:47,554 So I can definitely see it. I got one more big one for you. 1047 00:39:47,595 --> 00:39:49,139 A collab that you have not done yet, 1048 00:39:49,180 --> 00:39:51,349 that you need to do before it's all said and done. 1049 00:39:51,391 --> 00:39:52,976 -Nobody. I'm gonna tell you the truth. 1050 00:39:53,018 --> 00:39:58,648 I've never, and I still don't to this day, 1051 00:39:58,690 --> 00:40:00,233 look at stuff like that. 1052 00:40:00,275 --> 00:40:01,735 "Man, I always wanted to get a song with such and such, 1053 00:40:01,776 --> 00:40:04,237 and I never did." Like, it just -- 1054 00:40:04,279 --> 00:40:07,240 Even in the past, I remember it was like a J. -- 1055 00:40:07,282 --> 00:40:08,533 a J. feature, and -- 1056 00:40:08,575 --> 00:40:10,160 and the energy of that was coming -- 1057 00:40:10,201 --> 00:40:12,787 I felt like it was -- I felt people wanted that. 1058 00:40:12,829 --> 00:40:14,789 I felt my friends wanted that -- boom, boom. 1059 00:40:14,831 --> 00:40:17,959 But when I actually bust down, like, who I am as a person, 1060 00:40:18,001 --> 00:40:22,422 I love to keep my heroes over there. 1061 00:40:22,464 --> 00:40:23,882 -Mm-hmm. -I don't need to come in -- 1062 00:40:23,923 --> 00:40:25,884 I don't need to get the song with you. 1063 00:40:25,925 --> 00:40:29,095 I just need to enjoy what you did for me 1064 00:40:29,137 --> 00:40:31,097 and what you do for me over there. 1065 00:40:31,139 --> 00:40:33,099 I don't need -- like, there's no validating thing 1066 00:40:33,141 --> 00:40:35,268 that's gonna be, like, "Ah, I got a song with such." 1067 00:40:35,310 --> 00:40:36,936 Nah. I wanna do what I'm doing. Boom, boom. 1068 00:40:36,978 --> 00:40:38,813 So it's like, I'm open for whatever. 1069 00:40:38,855 --> 00:40:40,273 You know what I mean? But at the same time, 1070 00:40:40,315 --> 00:40:42,609 I'm never -- like, I don't have a list of... 1071 00:40:42,650 --> 00:40:43,985 -Of people that you have to work with 1072 00:40:44,027 --> 00:40:45,862 before it's all said and done. -Nah. Nope. 1073 00:40:45,904 --> 00:40:48,823 -To make it, this is the way that I know that what I did... 1074 00:40:48,865 --> 00:40:50,408 -Yep. -...was the dopest shit ever. 1075 00:40:50,450 --> 00:40:52,243 'Cause look who came and fucked with me along the way. 1076 00:40:52,285 --> 00:40:53,620 I don't need that. -Yep. 1077 00:40:53,661 --> 00:40:54,913 -That's not what I'm looking for. 1078 00:40:54,954 --> 00:40:56,581 When you say the word "heroes," who acts 1079 00:40:56,623 --> 00:40:58,583 as some of those heroes? -Oh, man. 1080 00:40:58,625 --> 00:41:00,794 I got a list of people that are why I'm here. 1081 00:41:00,835 --> 00:41:02,295 They don't even know it. You know what I mean? 1082 00:41:02,337 --> 00:41:05,006 And they -- but they are, 1083 00:41:05,048 --> 00:41:07,467 you know, like the north stars that I was following. 1084 00:41:07,509 --> 00:41:10,679 So it's like, obviously there was Pac when I was -- 1085 00:41:10,720 --> 00:41:14,766 forever, but one of the earliest ones, 1086 00:41:14,808 --> 00:41:20,689 Jay, Nas, Eminem, Andre 3000... -Wow! 1087 00:41:20,730 --> 00:41:22,982 -...Lil Wayne. -Mm-hmm. 1088 00:41:23,024 --> 00:41:25,026 -You know, and there's -- and these are, like, 1089 00:41:25,068 --> 00:41:28,071 the big bullets, but then you also got, like -- 1090 00:41:28,113 --> 00:41:30,657 I had a Royce da 5'9 moment. You know what I mean? 1091 00:41:30,699 --> 00:41:32,367 I had Canibus moments. I had... 1092 00:41:32,409 --> 00:41:33,743 -Wow! -...boom-boom moments. 1093 00:41:33,785 --> 00:41:36,162 But in terms of, like, the people 1094 00:41:36,204 --> 00:41:40,083 that really fuel in terms of, like, my ambition and showing me 1095 00:41:40,125 --> 00:41:42,544 what's possible, like, the first names I named, like, 1096 00:41:42,585 --> 00:41:44,838 those were the highest ones. 1097 00:41:44,879 --> 00:41:46,214 So it's, like, you know, 1098 00:41:46,256 --> 00:41:49,217 these were the people that, like, yo, 1099 00:41:49,259 --> 00:41:51,803 I'm trying to get up there. You know what I mean? 1100 00:41:51,845 --> 00:41:54,139 And, like, in terms of skill, in terms of success, 1101 00:41:54,180 --> 00:41:56,016 all of that, like, they fueled it. 1102 00:41:56,057 --> 00:41:59,185 -I want to say this, man, before we wrap up. 1103 00:41:59,227 --> 00:42:01,980 And, like I told you, it's about flowers for me. 1104 00:42:02,022 --> 00:42:05,650 It's about taking the time to make sure that the people 1105 00:42:05,692 --> 00:42:08,987 that I have the opportunity to sit across from understood 1106 00:42:09,029 --> 00:42:13,199 not only just what I personally felt about them -- 1107 00:42:13,241 --> 00:42:18,038 their success, their now, their why. 1108 00:42:18,079 --> 00:42:21,708 It's big for other people to see people in our position 1109 00:42:21,750 --> 00:42:23,877 embrace one another. Right? 1110 00:42:23,918 --> 00:42:25,712 Dude, I think it's dope as fuck 1111 00:42:25,754 --> 00:42:27,380 that I'm a part of your generation. 1112 00:42:27,422 --> 00:42:30,925 I think it's dope as fuck that my journey aligns with yours 1113 00:42:30,967 --> 00:42:34,471 and that we're able to say we started from back here 1114 00:42:34,512 --> 00:42:36,181 and that we now got to here. -Mm-hmm. 1115 00:42:36,222 --> 00:42:38,308 -And then being here, we're discussing it. 1116 00:42:38,350 --> 00:42:41,144 Like, we're having open dialogue about it. 1117 00:42:41,186 --> 00:42:45,023 I love that you can stand up here 1118 00:42:45,065 --> 00:42:49,277 and say, "I had to find myself, re-create myself, recalibrate, 1119 00:42:49,319 --> 00:42:52,489 make changes, ultimately to make the best decisions for me 1120 00:42:52,530 --> 00:42:53,740 to be the best person I am. 1121 00:42:53,782 --> 00:42:55,742 And I shut this off, shut that off." 1122 00:42:55,784 --> 00:42:58,161 Like, those words that you're saying, 1123 00:42:58,203 --> 00:43:00,747 people will hear, people will hold on to, 1124 00:43:00,789 --> 00:43:02,248 and some people do need to hear that shit. 1125 00:43:02,290 --> 00:43:05,126 Some people do need to know that those decisions 1126 00:43:05,168 --> 00:43:07,587 are extremely important and impactful to your future, 1127 00:43:07,629 --> 00:43:11,257 especially when you're trying to get to a certain place. 1128 00:43:11,299 --> 00:43:13,551 Making that right or left determines 1129 00:43:13,593 --> 00:43:15,303 if you'll get there or not. 1130 00:43:15,345 --> 00:43:17,389 And you've got to be a hell of a strong-minded individual 1131 00:43:17,430 --> 00:43:20,767 to make the decision to do so, to self-check yourself. 1132 00:43:20,809 --> 00:43:22,143 And you've not only done that, 1133 00:43:22,185 --> 00:43:24,020 you've done it in a major way, man. 1134 00:43:24,062 --> 00:43:25,313 I'm proud of you, brother. -Thank you, brother. 1135 00:43:25,355 --> 00:43:27,816 -I love you genuine -- like, genuinely. 1136 00:43:27,857 --> 00:43:30,402 -Thank you, brother, -Love, appreciate, admire you 1137 00:43:30,443 --> 00:43:31,820 for the person that you are. 1138 00:43:31,861 --> 00:43:33,780 I hope you guys make the right decision, 1139 00:43:33,822 --> 00:43:35,115 and that's to really, truly listen 1140 00:43:35,156 --> 00:43:36,324 to a lot of the things that were said. 1141 00:43:36,366 --> 00:43:38,618 A lot of gems were dropped today. 1142 00:43:38,660 --> 00:43:40,036 That's what the show's about. 1143 00:43:40,078 --> 00:43:41,413 Ladies and gentlemen, the legend, J. Cole. 1144 00:43:41,454 --> 00:43:43,665 -My boy. Thank you, bro. -Look, how good is this? 1145 00:43:43,707 --> 00:43:46,209 -Ooh-wee! 1146 00:43:46,251 --> 00:43:47,877 -Love you, man. -Thank you, brother. 1147 00:43:47,919 --> 00:43:50,296 You're a fucking pro, man. Do we sit or do we stand? 1148 00:43:50,338 --> 00:43:52,340 -No, that's it. It's over. Thanks for coming. 1149 00:43:52,382 --> 00:43:53,800 Let's get you the fuck up out of here. 1150 00:43:53,842 --> 00:43:56,177 [ Speaks indistinctly ] 1151 00:43:56,219 --> 00:44:05,228 **