The only time Wale saw J Cole angry: “I was just in shock”
The most chill rapper in the US apparently has an angry streak. J Cole, known for his composed manner and laid-back attitude, once showed a surprising fit of rage while on tour with Wale.
Wale has shared behind-the-scenes tales from the Jay Z Blueprint 3 tour in 2009, where he and J Cole were the supporting artists. During a recent interview with Uproxx, Wale recalled one of his most memorable moments from the tour, describing an uncharacteristic explosion from Cole.
“Boy, I got some stories”, Wale started with. “Nobody’s ever [J Cole] lose his temper ever, right? Like, he’s so calm”. But on the last day of the tour, Wale reported that he saw J Cole lose his composure completely.
“We go to Jay’s suite or somethin. Everyone’s up there, whatever. We had to leave… we get down by the bus, and all I remember is Cole going at it with this tour manager”, Wale said. “To this day, I’ve never seen him that mad. He’s all zenned out now, I’ll never forget that. All I know is I was just in shock”.
Wale didn’t elaborate further on what happened that night, but the altercation definitely left an impression on the rapper. The story also provides a rare look into the pressure artists experience in the early days of their careers, especially while on major tours. And, given that it was the last night of the tour, there may have been previous tensions that reached a breaking point and lead to Cole’s outburst.
The Blueprint 3 tour was a huge moment in hip-hop history. Jay Z was at the height of his game, and emerging talents like J Cole and Wale had an incredible opportunity to prove themselves on a global scale.
Wale’s account is the first time someone has publicly shared a story about J Cole being angry. He spoke with Uproxx as part of a promotion for his upcoming album, Everything Is A Lot, released November 14th. In a separate Billboard interview, Wale said there’s a lot of emotional depth in his new album, and that “a certain level of vulnerability” can be found in it.
“One of the underlying things is how heavy everything is in the world around me, my personal life, and the industry”, Wale explained. “I carried all of that with me and got it out of my system through this”.
Perhaps as Wale reflects on his own humanity, he has remembered his peers’ too. By showing the world J Cole in a different light, we’re reminded that rappers – with all their hard exterior – are people with emotions and breaking points.
While J Cole continues to be one of rap’s most level-headed figures, it’s refreshing to know that he has a range of feelings that undoubtedly inspire his music. It also reminds us that our favourite artists mature in different ways, and that every interaction is an inspiration for tracks.
The version of J Cole and Wale (and even Jay Z) from The Blueprint 3 is present in their albums of that time, and what we see and hear in their projects today reveals the growth they’ve all had (raised voices and all).