179 J. Cole Quotes and Lyrics About Life and Love

Are you searching for the perfect caption to elevate your social media game or some hard-hitting wisdom to navigate life’s challenges? Look no further than the lyrical genius of J. Cole, the North Carolina native who’s been spitting truth since his early mixtapes like “The Come Up” and “The Warm Up.”

From classic albums like “2014 Forest Hills Drive” and “4 Your Eyez Only” to iconic collabs with hip-hop heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Jay-Z, Cole’s words have been a constant source of inspiration, comfort, and straight-up realness.

That’s why I’ve compiled this ultimate collection of J. Cole quotes and lyrics. Whether you’re looking for a caption that hits deep, some wisdom to get you through tough times, or a reminder that you’re not alone in this journey called life, Cole’s got your back. So, let’s dive into this treasure trove of bars, punchlines, and truth bombs – you might just find the perfect words to live by!

What are the benefits of reading these J. Cole quotes?

These J. Cole quotes will:

• Remind you that you can achieve your dreams with perseverance and hard work
• Inspire you to help others who are less fortunate than you
• Give you a new perspective on life’s challenges

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 released 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.

Cole has won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song and a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Album, among others.

Moreover, all five of his albums have been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

He handles most of the production in his own projects and has also produced singles for artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Janet Jackson.

Cole is also into sports and has previously written about his dream of pursuing a professional basketball career.

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

Here are some great J. Cole quotes and lyrics to inspire you to work towards your dreams.

J. Cole quotes about life

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

J. Cole quotes about love and relationships

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

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

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

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

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

16. “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

17. “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

18. “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

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

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

J. Cole quotes on faith and spirituality

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

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

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

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

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

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

J. Cole quotes about life’s challenges

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

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

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

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

J. Cole quotes about achieving dreams and goals

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

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

33. “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

34. “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 man take his brother life
The bitterness and pain that got him beating on his wife” – J. Cole, Change

35. “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

36. “You have no control over what somebody else feels about you, but you have 100 percent control over how you feel about yourself and how you feel about the people around you and how you handle life.” – J. Cole

37. “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

38. “If practice made perfect, I’m practice’s baby” -J.Cole, KOD

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. “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

41. “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

42. “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

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

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. “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

47. “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

J. Cole quotes to inspire and teach

48. “I know that everything that glitters ain’t gold
I know it 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. “To appreciate the sun, you gotta know what rain is.” ― J. Cole

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 brother is broke?
What good is first class if my brothers 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 brothas 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

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

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

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

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

J. Cole quotes that will make your day

121. “I feel like I am officially in the game, but I also feel like I’m not where I want to be. I’m far from it. I got a lot more things to do. I got a lot more respect to get…” – J. Cole

122. “Am I about dollars or about change? Am I about knowledge or brains? Freedom or big chains? They don’t feel my pain.” – J. Cole

123. “Never give up until you’ve given out all your very best. It’s better to fail trying than wondering what could have happened if you tried.” – J. Cole

124. “You can lose all the money, but you’ll never lose people knowing you.” – J. Cole

125. “Keep grindin’ boy, your life can change in one year. And even when it’s dark out, the sun is shining somewhere.” – J. Cole

126. “You are perfect exactly as you are. With all your flaws and problems, there’s no need to change anything. All you need to change is the thought that you aren’t good enough.” – J. Cole

127. “The further I go, I still feel equally further from my eventual goal. Because as I grow, I get more goals. I’m never content.” – J. Cole

128. “Don’t let bridges you cross be bridges you burn.” – J. Cole

129. “Promise to my momma I’mma make it to the top, so I’mma keep climbing ‘til my heartbeat drop.” – J. Cole

J Cole Quotes To Set Your Targets High

130. “When you’re a rapper—just a rapper—you have to kind of settle for whatever comes your way. If a beat is hot, you wanna rap on it, period.” — J.Cole

131. “If you ain’t aim too high, then you aim too low!” — J.Cole

132. “But the only real change comes from inside.” — J.Cole

133. “A little jealousy in a relationship is healthy. It’s always nice to know someone is afraid to lose you.” — J.Cole

134. “Producing all my own songs and refusing to go to the hot producer. That’s the biggest risk I’ve taken so far.” — J.Cole

135. “I swear I walk with God, but the Devil keeps following.” — J.Cole

136. “For a few minutes, you made me feel as if I actually meant something to someone.” — J.Cole

137. “Hard to move on when you always regret one.” — J.Cole

138. “If you place your importance on appreciation and love, that’s enough.” — J.Cole

139. “The real is gonna keep on being real. They won’t have a choice in the matter.” ― J. Cole

J. Cole Quotes to Motivate and Reflect

140. “I don’t like to think of it as being fired. Instead, I prefer to think of it as being on indefinite leave with a sabbatical flair.” — J. Cole

141. “I want to be like Bruce Springsteen or something, making songs that are relevant.” — J. Cole

142. “When composing music, I just start spilling things out and then wait until they take form, you know what I mean, until I see like a common thread or something.” — J. Cole

143. “It’s the way I enjoy making art – I like sitting down and making five beats; I enjoy that process. I can go two weeks without making a song and just making beats and I’ll be OK.” — J. Cole

144. “I worked in ad sales. I would call up local businesses and try to get them to buy ads in the paper. The whole time, I felt like I was just scamming people.” — J. Cole

145. I was a huge Mike Tyson fan growing up; his fights were always on in my house.” — J. Cole

146. “I never really told anybody that I’m a rapper. I wasn’t walking around being like, “Yo, check out my mixtape!” It was more of a secret grind.” — J. Cole

147. “Tupac was just so passionate about what he believes in and not afraid to say anything.” — J. Cole

148. “The good news is, you came a long way. The bad news is, you went the wrong way.” ― J. Cole

149. “Sometimes I try a Mai Tai. It’s so fruity. It’s a little embarrassing, but I like it.” — J. Cole

J. Cole’s Quotes on Music, Dreams, and Reality

150. I think if I did something in the pop world right now, it would be for Rihanna. I’d love to do something production wise for her.” — J. Cole

151. “My Mother’s an actress, and she’s always told me, “Boy, you’re an actor.” I would look forward to seeing if I’m any good. I want to be good at it, that’s the only thing.” — J. Cole

152. “I kinda like the idea of having an album that’s all me.” — J. Cole

153. “Get on yo job little man this ain’t Saturday.” — J. Cole

154. “My goal is to have that be a haven for families.” — J. Cole

155. “When I was in college my girl got me a job at the doctor’s office she was working at. I was a file clerk. No disrespect but I don’t think a man can do that job. It takes so much meticulous and precise file-keeping.” — J. Cole

156. “Yeah school girl, cool girl. Your dress is sexy and your momma is a cougar.” — J. Cole

157. “One day, I’ll be listening to a bunch of Ray Charles, the next day it’s nothing but Red Hot Chili Peppers. The next day it might be Tupac all day.” — J. Cole

158. “History repeats itself and that’s just how it goes.” — J. Cole

159. “So ahead of my time even when i rhyme about the future I be reminiscing.” — J. Cole

Exploring Life’s Lessons with J. Cole Quotes

160. “I’ma be here for a while. None of these clowns can hurt me.” ― J. Cole

161. “I’m the type of person where, A., I look at things as challenges, I like challenges and, B., I truly believe that you determine your own destiny.” ― J. Cole

162. “I yearn for that livin’ large, but mama I ain’t done yet/Sit back and watch your son rise, kick back and know your son set.” ― J. Cole

163. “I’m already hot, you could say I’m pre-heated. If money talks, mine’s telling your’s to ‘be seated.” ― J. Cole

164. “You hate it before you played it. I already forgave ya.” ― J. Cole

165. “Sold my soul to Satan. I’ve been dancing with the devil. So when you get to hell you can say you know me. I’m easily attracted by the dark side. Devil keep following.” ― J. Cole

166. “I seen a baby cry seconds later he laughs… the beauty of life, the pain never lasts.” ― J. Cole

167. “To appreciate the sun you gotta know what rain is.” ― J. Cole

168. “Either you play the game or let the game play you and be that broke sucka talkin bout I stayed true.” ― J. Cole

169. “I’ll be dammed if I sit around another year, Dreamin’ dreams hopin’ somehow that they just appear.” ― J. Cole

Finding Inspiration in J. Cole’s Poetic Quotes

170. “If I lost your respect…I just hope you don’t look at me as something you regret.” ― J. Cole

171. “I gotta make a move, I gotta do this now, If they don’t know your dreams, they can’t shoot ’em down.” ― J. Cole

172. “Don’t worry, Even Jesus never saw his real father.” ― J. Cole

173. “I’d rather be happy being myself than sad trying to please everyone else.” ― J. Cole

174. “You have to hurt in order to know. Fall in order to grow. Lose in order to gain. Because most of life’s lessons are learned in pain.” ― J. Cole

175. “I try to put all those positive things into a regular human character, which is myself.” ― J. Cole

176. “You have to put in the work. And you have to play the game. And you have to play it better than anyone else.” ― J. Cole

What’s your favorite J. Cole quote?

J. Cole is widely popular for his incredibly inspiring lyrics.

He started 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 most authentic 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.