Aspiring Rapper: J.Cole “I always feel like there are two key ingredients when it comes to following your dreams, one, making something happen that the average person deems difficult. Honestly, if you truly believe it, that’s step one. Step two, is, you know, the hard work that goes along with it.” Jermaine Lamarr Cole, known to many as J. Cole, spoke these words in an interview in 2015 when asked about his determination and work ethic. As a rapper, artists have the ability to express his or her true emotions in their music and the opportunity to influence a generation in a lyrical and unique way. Rapper J. Cole is no exception and since his debut in 2011, he has become one of today’s greatest rappers. He is known for his integrity, honesty, …show more content…
Cole did not become a mainstream rapper with radio hits until about 2011. Since then, J. Cole’s career has taken off and grown as fast as a locomotive train flying down the railroad tracks. However, as with any train, it takes momentum, effort and force to build up speed and strengthen. J. Cole’s career was no different. With the motivation of his mother, J. Cole began rapping and producing his own music at the age of fifteen. Using Jay-Z and Tupac as his inspiration, everyday J. Cole perfected his raps and enhanced his vocabulary and diction so that he could find interesting and creative ways to write his lyrics J.Cole Musical Influences. He saved his money to buy keyboards and drum sets as he continued to make his own beats and develop his own rapping style. Given that J. Cole has to work so hard to get to where he is at, he continues to be a very driven artist. J. Cole’s rapping style can be described as fast-paced and easy to follow. He writes his lyrics in a very assiduous way that leaves his listeners suspenseful. J. Cole’s unique style has paid off, given that his most recent album from December 2014 entitled “2014 Forest Hills Drive” went platinum with over 2 million albums sold. This album had no features from any other artists, which has not been done in over 25 years. J. Cole has yet to earn a Grammy Award and to date has only won one Billboard Music Award in his whole career. Although J. Cole does not receive the recognition he deserves for his various accomplishments, he continues to stay on his grind and produce great