J Cole Breaks Down "Rich N * * * * z " Lyrics and Tells Stories Behind Born Sinner

www.hardknock.tv Four years after their first interview J Cole and Nick Huff Barili link up for their fourth in-depth interview. In part 3 J Cole explains the inspiration to his track Rich N * * * * z from his album Born Sinner. Cole breaks down lyrics and tells stories to give deeper insight to the song.
"Understand that when I start writing I don't always know where it's headed maybe until midway through the first verse or something," said Cole. "So, the first thing I write is 'I hate Rich N * * * * z. God damn it. Cause I ain't never had a lot, damn it.' And it's perfect that that came out because the thought that's been in my head or was in my head at the time was like-like I told you earlier, I used to have such a problem with like with people with money. It was almost a bitterness and a jealousy. Because my mom gotta work so hard. You know what I mean? And in my eyes, your father's rich. Your mom don't even gotta work. You drive a Benz."
Cole later spoke in-depth on the ironies and contrasting thoughts addressed on "Rich N * * * * z." At one point on the song he questions if he's becoming the money hungry rapper he once criticized as he raps, "You ain't crazy, mf, you're just afraid of change/That's new, maybe that's true/But listen here I got a bigger fear/Of one day that I become you."
On "Rich N * * * * z," he also references the fact that he's biracial and the irony of now having money.
"It was like a real feeling for me, which is kinda weird because there's people that I used to live around, but now that we moving to a better neighborhood they looking at me like 'Yo, y'all got two cars and you got your own bedroom now'...It's ironic cause now I have money," said Cole. "I'm at that level now. You know what I mean? I'm one of them. My kids are gonna be one of them. So, it's that battle. The whole song though I just took that approach of ironies. It was a time when my mom was delivering pizzas for just extra income. So, she had to deliver mail, come back home, change her clothes, and go deliver pizzas. And I used to be so scared cause she was delivering...you delivering pizza in the projects at night. I know how n * * * * z do. I know the game."
Tune in this Wednesday for part 4 of our conversation with J Cole!
Make sure to subscribe to / hardknocktv to be the first to see our new videos including more with J Cole. You can also follow us at hardknocktv and @Hardknocktv @NickHuff on twitter.

[@TJace50]

I swear his lyrics are so rich, schools needa start teaching his work as poetry lol

[@mannydonkor3335]

I agree

[@TJace50]

Diogo Moreira i mean some teacher taught kendrick's to pimp a butterfly alongside with a novel, so its not impossible

[@RobertEdits]

+TJace50 in poetry class we're learning about the lyrics from tpab

[@CaliFy-wb7zz]

TJace50 on a real

[@paulturndupschmidt7997]

TJace50 they will one day

[@yellow5350]

His morals and values are hard to find in rappers these days, so humble

[@RogerontheKeys]

Ghaniza W there are a lot of rappers with the same morals. Some are forgotten and others haven’t reach that level of fame.

[@JeromeProductions]

@@RogerontheKeys true af

[@ameetoshdash1252]

To this day tooo

[@tristanholmes1965]

@@RogerontheKeys and some have em but hit a block and forget em it’s sad but it’s life sometimes

[@FOUR-ho3ch]

Cole brother, youre going down in history, if not. Atleast in my history of favorite MCs . Coleworld

[@alexa.g1079]

YBBGM just wait to see what he does in 2019

[@oscargarcia838]

Alex A.G right he has no idea lol

[@bigry7472]

Oscar Garcia i been saying i just kno cole coming for something feel like it’s gon be one of his best albums up with FHD

[@thespacekat1782]

Yup

[@hamzahimran3447]

coleworld forever

[@FuDaizy]

Rich Niggaz is beyond insane probably my favorite joint on the whole album I mean. That shits some real life lyrical shit whoooo. Goosebumps

[@RM-wp7df]

And also the hook with "you got what I want / I got what you need.." is insaaane, the instrumental is really good, puts me in a great mood and at peace. My first listen of the album wasn't that great but I placed some song in my playlist and after another listen I was blown away. Cole has come a long way.. idk what you're doing now man, it's been 6 years since your comment, but I hope you still appreciate his work as much as you were doing back then!!

[@NAMIIBEAUTE]

The way he rides to beat is amazing

[@futuretrunks6430]

My nigga Jermain just scratched his hat XD

[@ivanq8569]

Lmfao 😂😂

[@jrodjc729]

Hell nah 😂

[@ItsAnEndlessWorld]

😂😂

[@Veeskizo]

4:03 son nigga said damn this hat itch.

[@afropicktv6894]

Bob Turd hey was high it looked like lol

[@FatimahPatrice]

I never thought it was possible to be in Love with someones Mind, but I am...My goodness I can listen to Cole talk all day, my personal Professor lol

[@kathymayweather7431]

Come fall in love with mine honeylol 😉

[@trinhamp7]

I love humble, logical rappers.

[@RM-wp7df]

Your comment is aging like fine wine honestly, the hip hop industry is changing so much every year..

[@mrslapside]

This song is really good! The beat has so much depth that it puts you in a crazy zone.

[@SSTLilRod]

Please listen to my music on my page, and give me a chance. All I'm asking for is 4 minutes of your spare time. A like, a comment, and Subcribe will be much appreciated, if you like what you hear.

[@paulturndupschmidt7997]

SSTLilRod i'll check you out

[@JojoRonaldo7]

his voice is so beautiful even when his just talking

[@vanessamarie127]

He may be talking about selling a soul but it definitely isn't his soul, he is talking about not becoming like the rest of the industry that's trying to sell him dreams! Better yet it's in the title "I hate rich niggaz" because he knows what a these famous celebrities had to do to reach where they are..

[@musf1403]

@@tusabe135 this brother starvin

[@hanelrobinson8596]

He sold his soul

[@tastelesssoperatatouille4396]

Exactly

[@monewilliams6245]

this song is definitely about celebrities and all they have to do to get to the top and u really wonder why kanye flips out and nobody says anything. becuz that's the effects of wanting it ALL from hollywood and doing some senseless stuff to get it. this song makes me think of the typical hollywood rock star and rapper meeting at the cross roads trading war stories as tupac would say about their journey to the top of the industry. just listen to it. with most of us white or black coming from fxxxed up environments youd be surprised who wouldn't take that deal with "the devil".. look at the 27 club members. idc personally ain't nothing worth not having peace and freedom. billion dollars or not I ENJOY going to the mailbox alone and eating of the 1$ menu at McDonald's without 1000 ppl waiting to see what I eat.

[@VideoGamesExtras]

Here after born sinner was certified double platinum 🥇

[@Ilovechicago100]

Can’t believe it man. I’m so happy for him. 🙌🏾I bought it over Kanye at the time.

[@JosiahDaPrince]

Best rapper in today's generation! Mentality wise! J Cole gets to your mind and open your eyes. Drake is the "best" in today's generation but doesn't rap about shit. All these rappers blinding people. J cole is trying to keep our eyes open

[@mitchdaniel1844]

Cole , Logic , Kendrick are probably the most conscious rappers in the game right now . their lyrics are usually so deep and have such personal meanings that anyone can relate to

[@a.m.9431]

There is hip hop and rap, hip hop is about money and girls. Rap is the best form of hip hop. People can call Drake an hip hop artist, but no wat he is a rapper.

[@FUNCism]

Music does not equal lyrics. They're both good in different ways

[@grammarguru554]

J cole is an MC, Drake is just a lame rapper

[@ItsAnEndlessWorld]

No lie

[@MyFavoriteSportsballTeam]

One of the most humble & real hip hop artists today.

[@hardknocktv]

New Video: J.Cole Breaks Down "Rich Niggaz" + Tells Stories Behind His Lyrics

[@Bella-ds7lk]

Love him

[@Miken401]

Isabella Acosta i

[@Bella-ds7lk]

Yes??

[@247quickscoper]

you see rappers nowadays rapping bout the bullshit; like how they got bad bitches and fast cars. That shit aint never gonna be better than a rapper who raps about the realshit; life. This is why J.Cole is on top of the game rn

[@dennisparker4435]

That's the God honest truth, frfr...

[@zephaniahfrost]

the song goes so deep, and it can touch you on so many levels. And j cole is so clever. The nigga he talking about, the rapper he's afraid of becoming is jay z, he's the only rapper that fits the description that he's giving

[@lenaroy5512]

Exactly I thought I was the only person that thought he was talking about jayz. He fits the description perfectly

[@26jori]

prolly my favorite track on the album. deep.

[@dingo9696]

is she gon pop is the best

[@HOLDENHIPHOP]

3:34 How 03' Adolescence came to be

[@jrodjc729]

How? Just cause he say Who am i?

[@middlechild1992]

reaching

[@didiermaza]

the contrast of that soft harp melody with those deep kicks is what made that track so good. One of my most listened to tracks on the album.

[@TheDanyale13]

The beat definitely draws you in.. my favorite part is when the beat drops & he hit you with “aye-oh” 😫 cole is a genius

[@abdulmalikumar5838]

This guy is so DEEP and Wise. It takes a lot to craft those lyrics in the song. The Flows 💯

[@nickglttbaow]

Lyrics like that spark real shit in people

[@Liam0269]

Been almost 8 years already

[@jobyjohn8718]

I wanna thank Cole for never quitting.. Always kept it real n raw.

[@daveconrad6562]

He beat the jayz hex

[@felipetrujillo6135]

born sinner and good kid mad city are my favorite albums in this music era

[@therockobama3018]

J Cole you are going down as top 5 the fact you speak real shit and you don’t judge people you just speak straight facts I got two boys they are half black half white and I want them to view life just like how me and you view it god bless you brotha keep it going can’t wait for your album Ps...please drop a collab album with Kendrick

[@ThaBroskeez]

this song is the most relatable one for me ever.

[@Tracey1395]

I love that he breaks this song down. Favourite song off the album.

[@PMckenzieFilms]

This song speaks to your soul. Cole went in on this one. My fav off the album.

[@WaterTeam]

♥️♥️ love this

[@Pancho2251]

one of my favorite songs.

[@Evelynbae]

One of my favorite songs ever! Even 5 years later

[@LexB1995]

Cole the realest

[@dbrowntiff]

I love this dude personality such a great human bean Cole is REAL

[@kindell1]

I love him, and that song! He's so real to me

[@MrSomaybe]

i keep watching & watching, never seen such a musical genuis in generations. ik kanye, nas jay. but there something about this guys ability to explain and integrate u with the entire process

[@Bryant721]

Please upload part four soon. Loving this interview. Great work!

[@hardknocktv]

Thanks. We will upload part four this Wednesday!

[@showitsis8934]

My favorite Cole song & 2nd favorite song of ALL TIME.

[@jimmygray4525]

Rich Niggaz is an amazing track and a very good meaning from the album. Cheers to J. Cole.

[@LuisOrtiz-cs4hr]

I come back here at least 3 times a year. I don't know why but I just knew Cole was gonna be a legend. No matter what!!! Cole world baby !!!!

[@3039576202]

I love you J Cole.....

[@angelinasanchez3120]

he is the best artist to live. tell me i’m wrong. Not just his music, him as a person and how humble he is. A genuine true person and we need that more in the artist community

[@queenscheba465]

I love this man!

[@aaronmedel2925]

This is so fk deep...!!cole 🌎....poetry in motion

[@Callmelucky]

it's a song we can all relate to, most at least and thoughts we mostly share.

[@TheImabossforreal]

As he's speaking all the verses he's speaking on are popping up in my brain 🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@snoopzebra4234]

This song is one of my favorite songs of all time. Top 5 or 10 for sure.

[@yoohoo4blood]

j cole is a visionary forreal. blessing to have him in the game. had a weak moment but blossomed into a soon to be legend ! ROC

[@indigoknives]

Work out

[@iam5907]

Who is here 2020, Cole has been deep since day one 🔥

[@devonteMdavis]

It's my favorite song, my friends favorite song, and even my moms favorite song on the album. It's deep.

[@ripism]

My fav song off the album but the album is perfect all together

[@cicicyn]

Love this background story!

[@kidswagx]

J.Cole is the best one at it right now. (To me)

[@Raphael.Machado]

Cole is sick, Keeping it Real!

[@tylercovington6938]

Possibly my favorite song off the album.

[@lexis160]

I love my J.Cole so of course Ik those lyrics

[@101NICHELE]

Love this man

[@Bishx43]

Born sinner is up there with GKMC

[@Miichooow]

Hahaha

[@dominicansfuckwithblackhip3542]

+Mikail .Eriksson that nigga CraZy

[@Bishx43]

smh haters

[@Miichooow]

+Bishx43 Hahah whatever man

[@Tweekeen]

it is tho

[@chrisnavarro5448]

The sample is from the ending of a track called "Into Everything" by French trio "Télépopmusik"

[@freshcoblaise.martinez4084]

thank you soon much cole. Your a inspiration . #SIMBA #DREAMVILLE CO..

[@turbofoams]

Cole world for life

[@KDOTT]

This is my favorite song

[@serenaalcius1704]

I love you Jermaine Cole

[@mateomarquez6959]

I love Cole

[@Mary.goldd_]

Omg he's so wedding awesome. I do t listen to rap but I only listen to him because he actual "makes sense"

[@hapiavenue2136]

i absolutely love the theme song, i wish i could buy the beat and create something

[@leonardopacheco9669]

He snapped.

[@KSA-VLOG]

Now he is a legend

[@merrysoul06]

Sampled telepopmusik's - into everything

[@hibuffy5303]

The goat

[@Astroboy29]

The best is mesmerizing

[@drughead69]

Good to see a relevant hip hop artist that's spits meaningful lyrics with substance and can actually break down what his message was can't say that for 80% of the garbage some artist put out these days

[@rayshepherd5971]

Cole *FUCKING* World🙏🏽

[@jsleath88]

Cole World!

[@chrishoward8058]

j cole and Kendrick revived my faith in hip hop the shit was dead and stale I gave up hope then heard forrest hill drive and good kid mad city end of story lol

[@brandonbair]

+Chris Howard because the internet.

[@patrickleone9883]

hip hop hasn't been dead, you've just been close-minded... good music has been out there

[@abbie2226]

+Patrick Leone I think he means the shitty rappers like Young Thug, Fetty Wap, and Future.

[@deedeelove93forevermore85]

Chris Howard fuckin facts bro! 💯💯💯💯👌🔥

[@mohamedkhalid1427]

Chris Howard

[@beautifully202]

Truth !!! Shouts Out To D. Dane... I'm Old School!!!

[@MariaGonzalez-xq6xe]

It went from a cold world to a cole world in a flash man looking through

[@wesleyphung738]

dude's real man, he's real man. true.

[@absolutebeautyxoxo]

I'm a girl and I kno every lyric to this song I was going to perform it for a project I have in college...offended much this is my all time favorite song by him

[@hakarumonoka]

J. Cole is seriously one of the realist rappers out there. So humble.

[@jojjox6603]

1:30 - I can relate so fucking much to this.

[@Hashtag31]

why cole is one of the best

[@recommendedforyou5775]

goat

[@TERROJP]

J. C. flying High as a kite

[@avonbarksdale91]

Rich Niggaz is a great song. I remember the 1st time me and my homie heard it for the 1st time when we played the album and looked at eachother like What?!? Haha Cole

[@julialouk9363]

oh yeah I've been through that everyday life struggle I know exactly what you're trying to say I come from the same town as you do

[@chinigyal]

J.Cole Is Sooo Cute, Lyrics Sooo True, Thats whaat you call a real rapper OKAY LIL WAYNE?

[@MisjifTelevision]

Good break down

[@20twin10]

Old head young body, stayed true to his morals through out his career.

[@nivra101]

best song on the album! thank god for this nigga because if he didn't come along rap would die

[@KDOTT]

J. Cole looks like one of the coolest rappers to kick it with

[@Roxiered]

I swear I love this nigguh

[@bamaboywj]

3:40 👌🏼 that’s on point

[@joeyrabz1616]

That beat though... I love the African sounding harmonious voices. Fav song on the album.

[@colesummer2205]

I'm one of those girls that know his lyrics word for word #Coleworld

[@jusmedaylen6644]

GOD bless

[@mgk_moloko]

❤

[@Celebstories666]

Fayettenam nc we taking over

[@andrelmckay7439]

Genius... Sheer genius

[@nadiajones8937]

J cole is so full of intelligence and wisdom I can relate to that of him lol 😂😂😂😂