Meeting J. Cole
01.20.10
In the Summer of 2009 I hit New York for this Levi’s ‘Go Forth’ collaboration that I was asked to participate in. After much run around throughout that day I was exhausted ready to head back home when Shamz hit me and suggested I come by The Highline Ballroom as the Roots were having their ever so popular Jam Session - why not, right? Plus if the bill wasn’t crazy I’d be performing. Yes.
Upon walking backstage I say my hello’s to everyone around when Shamz introduces me to this tall light skin guy, - who gives me a sincere hello - turns out it’s J.Cole. He pauses, looks back at me and asks me my name, says he’s familiar with my name and work but has never had time to check out the music, I admit the same as I’ve seen him a countless amount of times on 2DopeBoyz while campaigning for, ‘The Birth’.
We chat it up a bit, exchange info and keep it moving. I meet up with him on the Boston leg of the Sneaker Pimps Tour w/ The Clipse as well as the Blueprint 3 concert and dude really looked out, even with the amount of running around he had. Genuine stuff.
I say all of that to say this, you’ll never know who you’ll meet and the impact they’ll have on your life (and vice versa). This guy is rubbing shoulders with the people you quote back on like bible scriptures. I honestly wasn’t even going to go to the Jam Session as I was beyond exhausted and had to be back at work for 8am and here I am in NYC at 2am wandering the streets like I have no home training.
But I did it, not to have an excuse to stretch my responsibilities but because I may never get that opportunity again. It’s an investment I’m investing in.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain
I made it to work on time, btw.
~ Mr. Martins
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