J. Cole closed out his Dreamville Festival over the weekend with a heartfelt message — and surprisingly, it was about Kanye West.
Despite Kanye recently taking shots at Cole — even claiming only "virgins" listen to his music — the Cole World rapper chose to rise above the noise. Instead of firing back, he reflected on Ye’s early support in his career.
While speaking to the crowd, Cole opened up about the inspiration behind his breakout single “Work Out,” the debut track from his first studio album, Cole World: The Sideline Story. He revealed that Kanye’s own track, also titled “Workout Plan,” was a major influence on his version.
“I know n****s feel a way about him right now,” Cole told the crowd. “But I got love for [Ye], and I really appreciate him. He cleared all these f***ing samples for me.”
He went on to describe the exact moment inspiration struck. “I heard [Kanye’s song] differently that day. I ran back to the other room — it’s like it spoke to me,” he said, recalling the creative spark that led to one of his most successful tracks.
Cole’s comments come in contrast to the recent tension Kanye has stirred with several artists. His remarks at Dreamville served as a reminder of the respect and gratitude that can still shine through — even in the face of public jabs.
Source: Instagram
