J. Cole Shares His Current Favorite Rapper: ‘This Artist Is Exceptional’

J. Cole recently shared the name of a rapper he has been listening to aside from his own work, and his choice may be unexpected.

During an interview with the YouTube channel Lost In Vegas to promote The Fall-Off, the Dreamville artist spoke highly of Killah Priest, a longtime affiliate of Wu-Tang Clan.

When asked about which MC(s) he is currently listening to beyond the well-known legends like JAY-Z, Nas, 2Pac, and Biggie, Cole mentioned, “The first answer that comes to my mind is somebody that I’ve been playing for the last month — a particular song that made me explore more of what he has been releasing over the years. It might be a little unconventional… but Killah Priest.”

Cole acknowledged that he wasn’t well-acquainted with Priest’s body of work until recently, aside from the track “B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)” from GZA’s classic 1995 album Liquid Swords.

He expressed admiration for the Brooklyn artist’s lyrical skills after discovering the song “NASA Case” during his recent Trunk Sale Tour.

“I played this song and it’s amazing. I didn’t know what to expect; I just clicked on it. It’s nine and a half minutes long,” he said. “It’s not a style that I usually gravitate toward. It’s very dense, and I wouldn’t even call it poetic. It reads like prose, almost like a book. And he’s telling a story.

“Honestly, while listening, I thought, ‘I can’t exactly follow what he’s talking about,’ but I was intrigued enough to stay engaged.”

Cole revealed that it was only after carefully analyzing the track that he fully understood Killah Priest’s lyrics, which turned him into a fan.

“I listened to that song about nine times in a row because each time I heard it, the story became clearer,” he continued. “And I thought, ‘Oh my God! Is this guy an alien?!’

“By the end of my ninth listen, as I recognized the concept he was working with, I thought, ‘Oh my God, does he come from another dimension and know things we don’t?!’”

He remarked, “It’s one of the few songs outside of my own that I’m playing because it’s so enjoyable, and I’m truly impressed with what this artist has created… Shout out to Killah Priest.”

Reflecting on his favorite rappers from his youth, J. Cole specifically mentioned Canibus and Royce Da 5’9″, two MCs he held in high regard as a teenager focused on lyrics.

You can watch the full segment at the 1:19:30 mark below.