---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never really told anybody that I'm a…"
description: "\"I never really told anybody that I'm a rapper. I wasn't walking around being like, \"Yo, check out my mixtape!\" It was more of a secret grind.\" — J. Cole"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/j-cole-2-3527_grind_i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-r_2421713.jpg"
---

#  I never really told anybody that I'm a rapper. I wasn't…

![“I never really told anybody that I'm a rapper. I wasn't walking around being like, "Yo, check out my mixtape!" It was more of a secret grind.” quote by J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/j-cole-2-3527_grind_i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-r_2421713.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/j-cole-2-3527_grind_i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-r_2421713.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/j-cole-2-3527_grind_i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-r_2421713.jpg)

> “I never really told anybody that I'm a rapper. I wasn't walking around being like, "Yo, check out my mixtape!" It was more of a secret grind.”

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He kept his rap ambitions private, focusing on hard work rather than public bragging.

**In simple terms:** Secret dedication over public hype.

Key Takeaway

Work quietly, let results speak.

Themes

humility dedication identity music

Mood

introspective determined

Type

musical motivational

When to use this quote

- music production
- career development
- personal reflection
- entrepreneurship

Key Concepts

creative process personal branding

Questions to Reflect On

- Why hide your talents?
- How does secrecy affect motivation?

A Different Perspective

Quiet effort may delay recognition.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/)

## Related quotes

> [Anybody can be a rapper, but not anybody can be a classical artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/anybody-can-be-a-rapper-but-not-anybody-can-be-a-classical-artist/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [Growing up, being a rapper wasn't my goal, but it became my destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-kennedy/growing-up-being-a-rapper-wasn-t-my-goal-but-it-became-my-destination/)

[Dom Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-kennedy/)

> [My love of words, alcohol, and stage antics basically cemented me as a rapper, but it wasn't a career that I wanted to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cakes-da-killa/my-love-of-words-alcohol-and-stage-antics-basically-cemented-me-as-a/)

[Cakes da killa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cakes-da-killa/)

> [You know, I wasn't a rapper, never wanted to be a rapper. That wasn't my style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-yella/you-know-i-wasn-t-a-rapper-never-wanted-to-be-a-rapper-that-wasn-t-my/)

[DJ Yella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-yella/)

> [If it's one thing I know well is how to get my grind on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/if-it-s-one-thing-i-know-well-is-how-to-get-my-grind-on/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/)

[Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/)

> [Everybody was in struggle, in the grind trying to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-buck/everybody-was-in-struggle-in-the-grind-trying-to-make-it/)

[Young Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-buck/)

> [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/)

[Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/)

> [But the grind has begun. The windows don’t open, and even the availability of near-constant jokes about Jews and Mormons fails to stem the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/but-the-grind-has-begun-the-windows-don-t-open-and-even-the/)

[Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/)

> [What's best for me is just to work when I feel like working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrbeast/what-s-best-for-me-is-just-to-work-when-i-feel-like-working/)

MrBeast

> [You have to stay focused and be mentally tough. That's what I've really learned: every day is a grind, and you have to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gronkowski/you-have-to-stay-focused-and-be-mentally-tough-that-s-what-i-ve/)

[Chris Gronkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gronkowski/)

> [“My job defines me, amuses me, thrills me and makes me feel like I am making a difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-primm/my-job-defines-me-amuses-me-thrills-me-and-makes-me-feel-like-i-am/)

Kathryn Primm

> [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/)

[Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/)

## More by J. Cole

> [The same ones you love will bring you pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/the-same-ones-you-love-will-bring-you-pain/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [It's the way I enjoy making art - I like sitting down and making five beats; I enjoy that process. I can go two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/it-s-the-way-i-enjoy-making-art-i-like-sitting-down-and-making-five/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [Producing all my own songs and refusing to go to the hot producer. That's the biggest risk I've taken so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/producing-all-my-own-songs-and-refusing-to-go-to-the-hot-producer/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [Sold my soul to Satan. I've been dancing with the devil. So when you get to hell you can say you know me. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/sold-my-soul-to-satan-i-ve-been-dancing-with-the-devil-so-when-you/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [I truly believe that I make my path and I set my course, and where I land, at the end of the day, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-truly-believe-that-i-make-my-path-and-i-set-my-course-and-where-i/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [My parents were divorced by the time I was even conscious - like, I don't remember them ever being together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/my-parents-were-divorced-by-the-time-i-was-even-conscious-like-i-don/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [You hate it before you played it. I already forgave ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/you-hate-it-before-you-played-it-i-already-forgave-ya/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [Yeah school girl, cool girl. Your dress is sexy and your momma is a cougar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/yeah-school-girl-cool-girl-your-dress-is-sexy-and-your-momma-is-a/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [When I first started rapping, when I switched my style to more like a punch line style - this is when I'm like 13…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-i-first-started-rapping-when-i-switched-my-style-to-more-like-a/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [I'm not gonna be bad at anything, and I want to actually be the best at anything I'm doing. So if I'm playing basketball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-m-not-gonna-be-bad-at-anything-and-i-want-to-actually-be-the-best/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [We got dreams and we got the right to chase 'em, Look at the nation, that's a crooked smile braces couldn't even straighten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/we-got-dreams-and-we-got-the-right-to-chase-em-look-at-the-nation/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [I seen a baby cry seconds later he laughs... the beauty of life, the pain never lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-seen-a-baby-cry-seconds-later-he-laughs-the-beauty-of-life-the-pain/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [If I'm a character, it's a biographical movie. My character is as close to me as possible. As close to being myself as possible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/if-i-m-a-character-it-s-a-biographical-movie-my-character-is-as-close/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [You can't take yourself too seriously. Like, yeah, I'm doin' all that, but still I don't feel like I've done anything, really. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/you-can-t-take-yourself-too-seriously-like-yeah-i-m-doin-all-that-but/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [When you're headlining, people are paying to come see you specifically. It's a different kind of pressure, because you've got to deliver. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-you-re-headlining-people-are-paying-to-come-see-you-specifically/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

[Explore all 128 J. Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

## More Grind quotes

> [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/)

[Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/)

> [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“My job defines me, amuses me, thrills me and makes me feel like I am making a difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-primm/my-job-defines-me-amuses-me-thrills-me-and-makes-me-feel-like-i-am/)

Kathryn Primm

> [You have to stay focused and be mentally tough. That's what I've really learned: every day is a grind, and you have to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gronkowski/you-have-to-stay-focused-and-be-mentally-tough-that-s-what-i-ve/)

[Chris Gronkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gronkowski/)

> [What's best for me is just to work when I feel like working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrbeast/what-s-best-for-me-is-just-to-work-when-i-feel-like-working/)

MrBeast

> [But the grind has begun. The windows don’t open, and even the availability of near-constant jokes about Jews and Mormons fails to stem the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/but-the-grind-has-begun-the-windows-don-t-open-and-even-the/)

[Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/)

> [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/)

[Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/)

> [Everybody was in struggle, in the grind trying to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-buck/everybody-was-in-struggle-in-the-grind-trying-to-make-it/)

[Young Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-buck/)

> [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/)

[Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/)

> [If it's one thing I know well is how to get my grind on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/if-it-s-one-thing-i-know-well-is-how-to-get-my-grind-on/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [I love my work and that's the only thing I think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-love-my-work-and-that-s-the-only-thing-i-think-about/)

[Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/)

> [Our bodies are garbage heaps: we collect experience, and from the decomposition of the thrown-out eggshells, spinach leaves, coffee grinds, and old steak bones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/our-bodies-are-garbage-heaps-we-collect-experience-and-from-the/)

[Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/)

> [Our society is so obsessed with working out to be skinny, and none of that has a purpose. I love that my daughter sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-price/our-society-is-so-obsessed-with-working-out-to-be-skinny-and-none-of/)

[Megyn Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-price/)

> [Frankly, I didn't want to do a television series because of the grind mainly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/frankly-i-didn-t-want-to-do-a-television-series-because-of-the-grind/)

[Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/)

Browse all 744 Grind quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I never really told anybody that I'm a rapper. I wasn't walking around being like, \"Yo, check out my mixtape!\" It was more of a secret grind.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J. Cole"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-rapper-i-wasn-t-walking-around/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Grind"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-rapper-i-wasn-t-walking-around/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/j-cole-2-3527_grind_i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-r_2421713.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/j-cole-2-3527_grind_i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-r_2421713.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/j-cole-2-3527_grind_i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-r_2421713.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I never really told anybody that I'm a rapper. I wasn't walking around being like, \"Yo, check out my…” — J. Cole",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "J. Cole",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I never really told anybody that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-rapper-i-wasn-t-walking-around/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-never-really-told-anybody-that-i-m-a-rapper-i-wasn-t-walking-around/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```