J. Cole Teaches How To Start A Rap Career In 3 Steps

“In the back of my mind, I always knew what it was I wanted to do. So, like, my second year (in university), I was back on track in terms of making music and reaching out to, like, because I was in the city. So, I was reaching out to whoever I could in the city. Like A&Rs. And whoever I felt like I could call. Nobody was listening or whatever, but I was still trying. Mark Pitts introduced me to Jay. Like, Biggie’s manager. He introduced me to Jay and Jay heard a song I had, called “Lightspeed”, which I actually did while I was still here. It was, like, the last semester of my senior year, whatever. And that’s when I did that song. And then he heard it and it got him interested. He came through and took the meeting, and then the rest was history.”

In the above quote, Jermaine Lamarr Cole a.k.a. J. Cole gives us an insight into his years at the university and the years following.

Unlike many rappers, Cole did pursue a university education, but during that time, he continued working towards his goal to be a rapper.

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TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 J. Cole Teaches How To Start A Rap Career Quote 1
1:04 Step #1: Connect. Network. Spread the Word!
2:34 Free Songwriting Video Course
3:28 Step #2: Patience, Ambition and Dedication
3:33 J. Cole Teaches How To Start A Rap Career Quote 2
6:28 Step #3: Understand the Industry and What it Demands from You
6:34 J. Cole Teaches How To Start A Rap Career Quote 3
8:48 Comment and Get your Free Course!

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Step #1: Connect. Network. Spread the Word!

The main takeaway from the above quote is the value of networking. Things have changed considerably over the past decade and artists today get spotted on the internet and connect with others online.

But the principle is essentially still the same today. If you wanna be a rapper with a significant reach. If you want to be able to work with the best in the industry, you will have to connect and network with industry professionals.

Step #2: Patience, Ambition and Dedication

“I really haven’t thought about no other career. I always knew I was going to make it, but it was just about when. So when I graduated and all my friends went and got, like, all my friends from St.John’s went and got like nine to five jobs. And they were making like 30,000 a year, 40,000 a year. And I was like, broke. And I was working a job making $10 an hour. But I’m trying to pay rent, so I’m grown now. Once you graduate, you’re not just a broke college student, you’re just really just broke as hell. So I was really broke as hell. So that’s when I was like, man, looking at my watch like yo.” — J. Cole Interview, 1:58–2:30

Cole sheds light on his financial situation in early life in the above quote. Even after graduating from the university, he was working a job which paid $10 an hour. Now that is some level of dedication to not get sucked into a nine to five rut.

It isn’t just a question of dedication but also sheers patience and ambition to make it as a rapper and see-through one’s plan despite all odds

Patience is a virtue that we have slowly forgotten in the current age of social media.


Step #3: Understand the Industry and What it Demands from You

“Mark Pitts told me, you got to play the game to change the game, basically meaning, like, at first, when it comes to dealing with label, dealing with the politics of the industry. You got to kind of give to take. You can’t just be the stubborn guy like I’m going to do it this way. Like I ain’t doing no interviews or I want my interviews like this. You’ve got to kind of give until you establish yourself and then you can have full 100% control. Not creatively. I’m just talking in terms of, in terms of, how you move.” — J. Cole Interview, 2:30–3:05

The above quote shows Cole’s realistic outlook vis-à-vis the music industry or the show business at large. It also shows how having the right mentor to guide you through the industry can help you immensely.

The quote also shows us that one must not be stubborn if one wants to make it in the entertainment business.

Being an idealist is fine. It is also essential to an extent to be a great artist. But as we can see from the above quote it is also important to understand the nature of the industry and business that you are trying to be a part of.

Cole mentions how in the early years, one should not be stubborn. One needs to put oneself out there and do what the industry expects and demands from you.

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