J. Cole reflects on his experience of paying Jay-Z to acquire his masters in a new snippet, acknowledging that "business is business." The snippet is featured in his latest Might Delete Later video series. Cole discusses his journey as a Roc Nation artist, noting the challenges he faced earlier in his career and the growth he experienced as a result:
"Y'all ask Jigga, how much did the kid gross for that label?
Paid dues, had to pay dude for my masters, but I'm grateful
Sh**, business is business"
Cole signed with Roc Nation in 2009 and has since reflected on his initial meeting with Jay-Z, where he felt nervous but ultimately secured a deal.The topic of master recordings has gained increased attention in recent years, with artists like Taylor Swift re-recording their albums to assert control over their masters. Jay-Z has also addressed his own masters battle, expressing his desire for his children to inherit his work while maintaining ownership himself.
