With the release of his new album 2014 Forest Hills Drive this week, J. Cole stopped by New York’s Power 105.1 FM on Thursday to chat with legendary radio host, Angie Martinez.
 
However, the 29-year-old rapper/producer didn’t spend much time talking about his project, which is expected to become the first rap album of 2014 to sell more than 200,000 units in its first week. Instead, he devoted much of the interview (watch below) to discussing the current state of society and hip-hop.
 
Whether you agree with him or not, Cole deserves respect for addressing real issues and not holding back when speaking his mind. Here are some notable quotes from the interview:
 
The current state of hip-hop: “We’ve been singing the same songs for 30 years … These dudes are portraying a lifestyle that a) they probably didn’t live and b) even if you did, you don’t no more but you still trying to milk us and feed us this and sell us this … You’re still trying to pump this lifestyle.”
 
His responsibility as a rapper: “If I’m speaking my mind and saying how I truly feel, I might say one thing that connects the dots for somebody that might’ve been the right connection that was needed to do something to change the world … Just give the world as much as you can and how you truly feel and know that it might live forever.”
 
Performing on David Letterman’s show: “I felt amazing but at the same time while I was doing it, I was shaking … it was the most important thing I’ve ever done.”
 
Allegedly dissing Eminem and Macklemore: “It’s silly how big of an Eminem fan I am … [the song ‘Fire Squad’] has nothing to do with dissing Eminem or dissing any of those people … that verse is an observation of culture right now.”
 
Capitalism in America: “We got a bunch of people in America doing something that don’t need to be done, just to make money … You’re making food that doesn’t help, it actually hurts us. That food is killing us but it makes money … That television show is hurting us, but it makes money. This music is killing us, it’s rotting us, but it makes money. That’s the system we live in. That goes for any industry.”
 
Being materialistic: “There’s no amount of money that’ll ever make you stop, if money is what you care about. You’ll keep going … If it’s cars, you’ll never have enough cars. If it’s women, you’ll never have enough, you’ll be chasing them forever. If it’s success, you can never get enough of that … it’s like a drug.”
 
Here’s the full interview:
 

 
Those who missed Cole’s powerful performance of “Be Free” on the “Late Show With David Letterman” can watch it below:
 

 
Related: J. Cole Releases New Single, ‘Apparently’