J Cole is famous for dropping platinum after platinum with no features. His latest album features a sample from a Damian Lillard interview.
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Cole began his musical journey during his time as a student at St John’s University. The 36-year-old resolved to pursue a career in music early on in his college life. His first mixtape came out in 2007 after he graduated college with a 3.8 GPA.
After over a decade spent as a chart-topping rapper, Cole is now in a new phase of life. His latest album reflects his newfound mentality and work ethic, and one of the common themes in his work is his constant reference to hoops.
J Cole is due to debut his professional basketball career for Rwanda-based Patriots BBC in the Basketball Africa League. Cole’s latest album dropped in much-anticipated fashion last night and has gotten a ton of positive reviews already.
THE REAL IS BACK.
J. COLE. #TheOffSeason. OUT NOW.https://t.co/PVpkud0Mbj
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) May 14, 2021
J Cole sampled Damian Lillard for a track on ‘The Off-Season’
Track 5 on this latest joint is a song titled ‘Punchin the Clock’. This title seems to be a double entendre referring both to putting in work and the phenomenon that all basketball fans have known for a while as Dame Time.
The song begins with a snippet where Lillard is giving an interview after an unreal game in the Disney World Bubble. Lillard’s words serve as a ‘It ain’t nothin I want more’
If you like the quote that kicks off J. Cole’s “p u n c h I n ‘ . t h e . c l o c k,” here’s the source: @Dame_Lillard.
This was a phenomenal interview and you could see that fire in his eyes and hear it in his voice. pic.twitter.com/DUyForw63R
— Andrés Tardio ✍🏽 📷 (@AndresWrites) May 14, 2021
This interview clip features raw post-game emotion that shows just how insane Dame is as a competitor. The interview sets up one of Cole’s most intensely lyrical flows thus far.
Lillard’s interview came after he tallied 61 points in a win over Luka Doncic’s Mavericks, keeping his Blazers’ postseason hopes alive. He would go on to win Bubble MVP for his insane scoring outbursts in the 8 seeding games.
