J. Cole will happily tell you that he released the album of the year and there's nothing wrong to think that. In a year where we've received so many quality projects, Cole's sits at or near the top depending on who you ask. The man is unquestionably one of the most talented figures in the hip-hop world but he doesn't often open up to the media. The North Carolina native prefers to keep things private in his life. Not one for all of the celebrity antics, Cole decided to take on the role of an interviewer when he spoke to Lil Pump this year but now he's back behind the hot seat in his Billboard cover story.
He speaks on his music, his social media presence and, interestingly enough, XXXTentacion. X was one of the hottest up-and-coming stars when he was murdered this year and many took his passing hard. After his death, Cole tweeted that the young artist had a "strong desire to be a better person," which was seen through his charity and "Helping Hand" initiative. The K.O.D. rapper revealed to Billboard that he actually had a conversation with X before he passed away, leaving a mark on him for the rest of his life.
"I spoke to him on FaceTime one day in February for, like, three hours. It was a super-intense conversation. He left a mark on me, just as a person."
According to Cole, X didn't even say hello. He simply greeted him by saying that he hadn't yet reached his level both spiritually and mentally. He reflected on the violent incidents in X's life, saying that he hoped to have been there to help turn around his life.
In the interview, the artist also speaks on the allegations that Kelis has made against his hero Nas, saying that he's what done is "unacceptable." Read the full story here.
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