120 J. Cole Quotes and Lyrics From Albums & Interviews

Both humble and unconventional, these J. Cole quotes will show you the power of being your most authentic self while pursuing your dreams.

Jermaine Lamarr Cole, known to the world as simply J. Cole, is an American rapper, record producer, singer, and songwriter.

Born on January 28, 1985, on a military base in Germany, Cole released his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, in 2011. The album debuted at number 1  on the U.S. Billboard 200, and was certified platinum in the United States.

Since then, the Grammy-nominated rapper has gone on to release several more albums that have mostly received positive reviews from critics. In April 2018, he released his fifth album, KOD, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and has since been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Besides music, J. Cole has also developed a non-profit organization called the Dreamville Foundation. He also houses single mothers rent-free at his childhood home in North Carolina.

As someone who started out from humble beginnings and worked hard to the top of his game, J. Cole has clearly tapped into his Everyday Power.

In this regard, here are some great J. Cole quotes and lyrics to inspire you to work towards your dreams.

J. Cole quotes about life

1. “Life can bring much pain. There are many ways to deal with this pain. Choose wisely.” – J. Cole, Intro (KOD)

2. “You coulda bought a crib with all that bread that you done blew
I know you think this type of revenue is never endin’
But I wanna take a minute just to tell you that ain’t true” – J. Cole, 1985

3. “Every loser gotta win and every winner gotta lose someday” – J. Cole, Deja Vu

4. “Life is all about the evolution” – J. Cole, Change

5. “My life is too crazy, no actor could play me”   –J.Cole, KOD

6. “But see I’m growing and getting stronger with every breath” – J. Cole, Change

7. “Time will tell who is on my side”  – J. Cole, The Cut Off

8. “Every time you go to sleep you look like you in Heaven” – J.Cole, She’s Mine Pt 1

J. Cole quotes about love and relationships

9. “And the strongest drug of them all – Love” – J.Cole, KOD

10. “Fell in love through photograph
I don’t even know your name” – J. Cole, Photograph

11. “Love today’s gone digital
And it’s messing with my health” – J. Cole, Photograph

12. “Don’t wanna die, ’cause now you’re here
And I just wanna be right by your side” – J. Cole, She’s Mine Pt 2

13. “If I fell in love with you before I ever even knew
I catch your eye then look away as if it never happened” – J. Cole, Deja Vu

14. “Catch me, I’ve fallen in love for the first time” – J. Cole, She’s Mine Pt 2

15. “You are now the reason that I fight
I ain’t never did nothing this right in my whole life” – J. Cole, She’s Mine Pt 2

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J. Cole quotes on faith and spirituality

16. “I know Heaven is a mind state, I’ve been a couple times” – J. Cole, The Cut Off

17. “I put my hand to the sky, I sing
Grateful for the blessings you bring
Thank you for the ones I love
Forgive me for the times I was
Down and confused, I know
What I reap is what I will sow” – J. Cole, Windows Pain

18. “I know that vengeance is the Lord’s and it’s not for me”  – J. Cole, The Cut Off

19. “See I believe if God is real, He’d never judge a man
Because He knows us all and therefore He would understand
The ignorance that make a nigga take his brother life
The bitterness and pain that got him beating on his wife” – J. Cole, Change

20. “I know I’m blessed because yo’ stress is realer than anything I done been through” – J. Cole, Windows Pain

21. “As we speak I’m at peace, no longer scared to die” – J. Cole, Change

22. “Sometimes I think pain is just a lack of understanding
If we could only understand it all, would we feel no pain?
God must feel no pain” – J. Cole, Once an Addict

23. “I no longer bury demons, I be a vessel for the truth until I’m barely breathing, I’m singing” – J. Cole, Change

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J. Cole quotes about life’s challenges

24. “One thing about your demons they bound to catch up one day
I’d rather see you stand up and face them than run away” – J. Cole, FRIENDS

25. “I understand this message is not the coolest to say
But if you down to try it I know of a better way
Meditate” – J. Cole, FRIENDS

26. “Feels so right to let things go” – J. Cole, FRIENDS

27. “My intuition is telling me there’ll be better days” – J. Cole, Change

28. “I sit in silence and find whenever I meditate” – J. Cole, Change

29. “My fears alleviate, my tears evaporate
My faith don’t deviate, ideas don’t have a date”   – J. Cole, Change

30. “I flip my misfortune and grow me a fortune” – J. Cole, ATM

31. “If the pressure get too much for me to take and I break
Play this tape for my daughter and let her know my life is on it” – J. Cole, 4 Your Eyez Only

33. “I was a fool, spent all my time ducking school, ducking cops
Ducking rules, hugging blocks that don’t love you”  – J. Cole, 4 Your Eyez Only

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J. Cole quotes about achieving dreams and goals

34. “You can dream but don’t neglect the execution” – J. Cole, Change

35. “Time is short that’s what somebody told me”  – J. Cole, Change

36. “I’m searching and praying and hoping for something
I know I’m gon’ see it, I know that it’s coming” – J. Cole, For Whom the Bell Tolls

37. “I had to cut some people off ’cause they was using me” – J. Cole, The Cut Off

38. “If practice made perfect, I’m practice’s baby” –J.Cole, KOD
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J. Cole quotes to help you live your best life

39. “At the bottom of the hourglass
Lies sand that represents the past
In which all of my demons rest
I’m calling out for help” – J. Cole, Into (KOD)

40. “How ’bout you listen and never forget?” – J.Cole, KOD

41. “What’s done in the dark will always find a way to shine” – J. Cole, Kevin’s Heart

42. “My heart is big, I want to give too much” – J. Cole, The Cut Off

43. “I’m controlling my mind, the days are warm
The nights are cold, the lost is found, I’m found” – J. Cole, BRACKETS

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44. “One thing about the men that’s controlling the pen
That write history, they always seem to white-out they sins” – J. Cole, BRACKETS

45. “Just because yo’ dick can spray semen, it don’t mean that you ready to let go of yo’ childish ways” – J. Cole, Windows Pain

46. “I try to find employment even if it’s wiping toilets” – J. Cole, 4 Your Eyez Only

47. “But the only real change come from inside” – J. Cole, Change

Don’t forget to also read these song quotes from some of the biggest hits.

J. Cole quotes to inspire and teach

48. “I know that everything that glitters ain’t gold
I know the shit ain’t always good as it seems
But tell me till you get it how could you know?” – J. Cole, A Tale of Two Citiez

49. “One day y’all have to decide, who you gon’ be
A scary nigga or a nigga that’s gon’ rule like me” – J. Cole, Fire Squad

50. “Rejection makes you defensive
So you protect your pride with your reflexes
But life is a game with no reset on the end” – J. Cole, Hello

51. “What good is the bread if my niggas is broke?
What good is first class if my niggas can’t sit?” – J. Cole, Middle Child

52. “Everything grows, it’s destined to change” – J. Cole, Middle Child

53. “I studied the greats, I’m the greatest right now” – J. Cole, Middle Child

54. “This year gon’ be different, I set my intentions
I promise to slap all that hate out your voice”- J. Cole, Middle Child

55. “I wish that he had more guidance, for real
Too many niggas in cycle of jail” – J. Cole, Middle Child

56. “I feel like this: Whatever is in your path and in your heart, you need to do.”- J. Cole

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Inspirational J. Cole quotes that will expand your mind

57. “Follow your heart. Don’t follow what you’ve been told you’re supposed to do.”- J. Cole

58. “It’s beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success.”- J. Cole

59. “I had a lot of resistance, and not just to fame. I was always conscious of not changing.” – J. Cole

60. “Sometimes our dreams come true, sometimes our fears do too.”- J. Cole

61. “People congratulate me. I just tell them God is good.”- J. Cole

62. “We got dreams and we got the right to chase ‘em.” – J. Cole

63. “My life accelerated, but had to wait my turn. But then I redecorated, that means my tables turn.”- J. Cole

64. “Nothing lasts forever, but at least we’ve got these memories.”- J. Cole

65. “In a game full of liars it turns out that I’m the truth. Some say that rap’s alive. It turns out that I’m the proof.” – J. Cole

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Other J. Cole quotes to inspire and motivate you

66. “Anything’s possible, you gotta dream like you never seen obstacles.” – J. Cole

67. “The music becomes more pure and soulful when it’s true, and it has to be true these days with the way the internet works, and the way the game works, everyone wants authentic raps.” – J. Cole

68. “You keep falling victim ‘cause you’re insecure, and when I tell you you’re beautiful you can’t be sure.” – J. Cole

69. “I don’t live for the accolades. I’m more so about the music. Making it, and putting it out. Those are the two best feelings.” – J. Cole

70. “Anything I do, I do it well.” – J. Cole

71. “My fans love me for me, my beats, my rhymes.” – J. Cole

72. “If they don’t know your dreams, they can’t shoot them down.” – J. Cole

73. “There’s a story behind every person, a reason why they are the way they are. So, think about that before you judge someone.” – J. Cole

74. “Take a chance, because you never know how perfect something can turn out.” – J. Cole

75. “They say time is money but really, it’s not. If we ever go broke, time is all we got.” – J. Cole

76. “No such thing as life that’s better than yours.” – J. Cole

77. “No need to fix what God already put his paint brush on.” – J. Cole

78. “I want people to follow their dreams, yes… but I’m not interested in telling young black kids how to be rappers… I want to show them that there’s so many other paths you can take, besides a rapper or basketball player.”
– J. Cole

79. “As we grow up, we realize it becomes less important to have a ton of friends & more important to have real ones.” – J. Cole

80. “One thing you should know about me is I never play to lose, Always aim high and rarely obey the rules.” – J. Cole

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More J. Cole quotes and lyrics

81. “The bad news is nothing lasts forever, the good news is nothing lasts forever.” – J. Cole

82. “Cause you a star—no, not the type that snort the white lines. I mean the type to light the nighttime.” – J. Cole

83. “The thing about being an artist today is you get to develop right in front of people’s eyes before you even put out an album.” – J. Cole

84. “I put a lot of pressure on myself. I think something’s not good enough, and I won’t stop until I feel like I’ve made it. I’m never satisfied.” – J Cole

85. “This is my canvas, imma paint it how I want to baby.” – J. Cole

86. “We ain’t picture perfect but we worth the pictures still.” – J. Cole

87. “I pay attention to lyrics and I know what rap fans care about. I try to write for the average listener and I’m conscious of the mainstream without selling out.” – J. Cole

88. “If I was to go to sleep before midnight, I would feel weird about myself, like I wasted a day. My most productive hours are between midnight and five.” – J. Cole

89. “You can’t reverse fame. You can lose all the money, but you’ll never lose people knowing you.” – J. Cole

100. “I’ve always been an underdog. I feel like I beat the odds.” – J. Cole

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J. Cole quotes about college and life

101. “I’m a super-duper over-analyzer. You mix that with self-doubt and pressure, and that’s never healthy.” — J. Cole

102. “My parents were divorced by the time I was even conscious – like, I don’t remember them ever being together.” — J. Cole

103. “I’m here to spread a message of hope. Follow your heart. Don’t follow what you’ve been told you’re supposed to do.” — J. Cole

104. “I do put a lot of God in my music, but not because I’m super religious. There are a lot of demons in my music, too. I acknowledge both.” — J. Cole

105. “College isn’t in everyone’s hearts. I am living proof, though, that school doesn’t mess up your plans. It gives you more experiences to write about.” — J. Cole

106. “I was a class clown. At 12, I was definitely clowning. I was making all the jokes. But I was smart, so the teachers didn’t know what to do with me.” — J. Cole

107. “My real dream is to have a whole, like, buy a whole piece of land. Imagine, like, a long driveway. Like, a cul de sac-type street, with maybe, like, seven houses.” — J. Cole

108. “Me be right here. Have my mom be able to be right here. My brother over here. My girl’s grandmother and family right here. Friends over there. That’s my real dream.” — J. Cole

109. “I’m half-black, half-white, so I basically put it like this: I can fit in anywhere. That’s why I write so many stories from so many different perspectives, because I’ve seen so many.” — J. Cole

110. “I always feel like it’s two key ingredients when it comes to following your dreams, making something happen that the average person deems difficult. If you truly believe it, that’s step one. Step two, is, you know, the hard work that goes along with it.” — J. Cole

Must-read J. Cole quotes

111.  “I still wanna rap better than everybody else, and I wanna say important things.” — J. Cole

112. “It’s no coincidence that all the greatest rappers – whoever you put in your top five – I guarantee you they are great storytellers.” — J. Cole

113. “College had a great deal to do with my development as a person. I don’t know if I’d be the artist I was if it wasn’t for goin’ to school like that. School is a good place – it ain’t for everybody, but I think it’s for most people.” — J. Cole

114. “I have a little bit of that gamer spirit in me. I just don’t have the time to be a gamer. But in another life, I would be one.” — J. Cole

115. “I struggled with being a broke college graduate, and while all my friends were getting career jobs, I was working horrible part-time jobs. That’s why now, even when I get tired, I think, ‘This is what I asked for.” — J. Cole

116. “I’m not gonna be bad at anything, and I want to actually be the best at anything I’m doing. So if I’m playing basketball, if I’m taking the SATs, like, there’s a competitive spirit behind it. With production, it’s the same thing.” — J. Cole

117. “No rapper in the world from Jay-Z to Tupac to Biggie has 100 percent love on everything they do.” — J. Cole

118.  “Life is a movie, pick your own role, climb your own ladder or you dig your own hole.” — J. Cole

119. “The same ones you love will bring you pain.” — J. Cole

120. “In this life ain’t no happy endings. Only pure beginnings followed by years of sinning and fake repentance.” — J. Cole

What’s your favorite J. Cole quote?

J. Cole is widely popular for his incredibly inspiring lyrics. He started out from humble beginnings but his hard work has seen him rise to the top.

And despite achieving all this success, he remains one of the realest rappers in the game. Hopefully, these J. Cole quotes and lyrics have inspired you to work towards your dreams and live your best life.

Did you enjoy these J. Cole quotes? Which of the quotes was your favorite? We would love to hear all about it in the comment section below. Also, feel free to share with your friends and followers.