J. Cole is setting a good example.
The enigmatic rapper rarely gives interviews, but he did sit down with Warriors President and General Manager Bob Myers for his ESPN podcast “Lead by Example.” During the hour-long interview, Cole discussed a variety of topics, including the Grammys, his family, and life lessons he learned as a child.
He admitted to smoking cigarettes when he was six years old until his older brother told his mother.
“This was literally a life-changing moment for me,” he said. “When she smelled cigarettes on my breath, her face looked heartbroken, disbelieving, and crushed,” I recall the expression on her face. ‘You’ve been smoking,’ she said.
He realized at that point that he was causing harm to others. “That was the first time I realized my actions could harm someone else.” My actions and decisions may cause harm to others.”
The Dreamville owner also spoke about his Grammy win and what it meant to him. “It was so important to me,” said Cole, who had a Grammy screensaver on his computer. “If I had won it early on, it would have validated all of my feelings for it.”
It wasn’t until 2020 that he won his first Grammy for Best Rap Song for his collaboration with 21 Savage on “A Lot,” which put things into perspective. “After a while, it’s clear that, oh wait a minute, those things weren’t for you.” Then, when it arrived, I was like, “I’m not in love with this thing anymore.”
Later, the father of two opened up about his family and his hopes for his children.
“There’s curiosity about what they’ll become, what their interests will be, but there’s no wish or hope about what it is,” he said. “What I learned at 30, I hope you can learn at 15 or 16… I want you to be able to learn the lessons that will help you find peace faster because I know what it’s like not to be living in your peace, comfort, and confidence.”
Watch the full interview, in which Cole discusses his three pillars of success and explains why he chose music over basketball.
