By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Rapper J. Cole is enjoying plenty of success which stems from his latest studio album “Born Sinner.” As we reported recently, J. Cole’s latest album has managed to outsell Kanye West’s “Yeezus,” and he was able to land the number one spot on the Billboard 200 in his second week. Despite going up against Kanye and releasing his album on the same date, the young emcee still managed to pull off some pretty strong first week sales numbers, selling 297k in his first week.
J. Cole not only has success on the charts and album sales, but the young rapper is already gaining the respect of most of his peers. He’s one of several rappers Kendrick Lamar paid respect to in his controversial “Control” verse, but J. Cole credits his upbringing for why he’s able to bring a fresh perspective to Hip Hop.
In a recent interview with BET, J. Cole says being biracial (mixed with African-American and Caucasian) has made it possible for him to represent both sides in his music. When asked if he received any pushback for being biracial, he says:
“Not at all. Just questions, I think people are curious to know. I get those questions a lot. ‘How has it affected you? Did you have identity issues growing up?’ I get those questions a lot but I feel like I represent both sides. The perspective that I’m bringing is a side that’s aware of both. I’ve seen both sides. I wouldn’t be able to say the things I say had I not seen another side. I don’t think I’d be aware of the inequalities if I wasn’t in these classes with all white kids, but then all my friends outside of class are not in these classes — and I see what happens in their classes or right down the street at the school that was my district, the school I was supposed to go to. They don’t even have books to take home. But why my school, which is 60 percent white, why does it have more than enough? I don’t think I [would have] been aware of that had I not been brought up with a white mother.”
In related news, J. Cole also took to his Twitter account to cryptically shut down the rumors suggesting he got into an altercation with P. Diddy. He tweets:
Love J. Cole.
Fine a-s.
He’s very talented. I don’t think being biracial matters.
Oh he’s mixed? Didn’t know that.
Me either.
Didn’t know he was biracial. But I’m not trying to be all up in his life like that. I Just like his music.
I like his music but I’m still not understanding his comment he made that if he were darker skin, he would not have been successful…Made me think he’s a little off. Light skin is the minority in Hip-Hop, I can only name a few light skinned rappers but dark skinned? Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, Jay-Z, Kanye, A$AP Rocky, Chief Keef, Lil Wayne, etc (and this is not to say these are GOOD rappers, just people who formally call themselves rappers and have had some measure of success). That comment was idiotic and didn’t make sense. Still like his music though.
Jay Z is dark skin to u?… LMAO
he’s right here are a lot of that are better than him that did’t get the recognition they deserved I.e tech nine, immortal technique, and black ice. eminem said it to his color did play a huge factor in him becoming as famous as he is today