--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People think because I've got some…" description: "\"People think because I've got some success, I've made it, but in my eyes it's like, 'How long has Jay Z been in the business? How many albums has he go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/j-cole-2-3527_albums_people-think-because-i-ve-got-some-succe_971505.jpg" --- # People think because I've got some success, I've made it… ![“People think because I've got some success, I've made it, but in my eyes it's like, 'How long has Jay Z been in the business? How many albums has he got?' Not that I'm trying to be Jay Z, but I am trying to be around for a long time.” quote by J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/j-cole-2-3527_albums_people-think-because-i-ve-got-some-succe_971505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/j-cole-2-3527_albums_people-think-because-i-ve-got-some-succe_971505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/j-cole-2-3527_albums_people-think-because-i-ve-got-some-succe_971505.jpg) > “People think because I've got some success, I've made it, but in my eyes it's like, 'How long has Jay Z been in the business? How many albums has he got?' Not that I'm trying to be Jay Z, but I am trying to be around for a long time.” [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. Success is measured by longevity, not just a single hit; true achievement is sustained relevance over time. **In simple terms:** Long-term relevance matters more than brief fame. Key Takeaway Focus on lasting impact. Themes success longevity legacy career achievement Mood reflective determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - music industry - career planning - personal branding Key Concepts sustainability reputation impact Questions to Reflect On - How can you build a career that endures? - What habits support long-term relevance? A Different Perspective Longevity can be hard to control; market shifts may end careers unexpectedly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [It seemed to me that, somehow, the blue jay was trying to communicate with me. I would see him fly into the house across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/it-seemed-to-me-that-somehow-the-blue-jay-was-trying-to-communicate/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [There are three people's careers I'd like to meld together into my own... Jay Z's for his business mindset, Macklemore's hustle as an independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cj-fly/there-are-three-people-s-careers-i-d-like-to-meld-together-into-my/) [CJ Fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cj-fly/) > [I know i'll screw up. But i'll keep trying, as long as you let me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mcmann/i-know-i-ll-screw-up-but-i-ll-keep-trying-as-long-as-you-let-me/) [Lisa McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mcmann/) > [The only person that can give up on you is yourself. People will always say no but you gotta keep trying. As long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamar-braxton/the-only-person-that-can-give-up-on-you-is-yourself-people-will/) [Tamar Braxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamar-braxton/) > [In my office...I have a little sign and it says, 'Do it!' I suppose if I have learned anything in life, it is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/in-my-office-i-have-a-little-sign-and-it-says-do-it-i-suppose-if-i/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Love yourself enough to give what matters every chance of working by communicating as well as you possibly can, and trying for as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-yourself-enough-to-give-what-matters-every-chance-of-working-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me, I'm just trying to see how long I can play basketball for and a lot of that has to do with how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/for-me-i-m-just-trying-to-see-how-long-i-can-play-basketball-for-and/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [“When your almost done trying for something that you have long tried,Give it another chance,you might never know if the opportunity strikes this time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narjit-singh/when-your-almost-done-trying-for-something-that-you-have-long-tried/) [Narjit Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narjit-singh/) > [Jay Mohr saved my life. That's not an overstatement either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralphie-may/jay-mohr-saved-my-life-that-s-not-an-overstatement-either/) [Ralphie May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralphie-may/) > [I met Jay Z. I don't really care about all that though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-durk/i-met-jay-z-i-don-t-really-care-about-all-that-though/) [Lil Durk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-durk/) > [I've always wanted to do a segment on a talk show. Jay Leno has been such a good friend, and if he would allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-a-segment-on-a-talk-show-jay-leno-has-been/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [YBN is family. Everybody in YBN is family. Nahmir and Jay, those are really my brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordae/ybn-is-family-everybody-in-ybn-is-family-nahmir-and-jay-those-are/) [Cordae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordae/) > [“Ain’t nothing wrong with a little crew love!” True mocked her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-wan/ain-t-nothing-wrong-with-a-little-crew-love-true-mocked-her/) [K'wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-wan/) > [Jay Z wasn't great when 2pac and Biggie was alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/jay-z-wasn-t-great-when-2pac-and-biggie-was-alive/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [Jay Jay Okocha. On and off the field he was the captain you looked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/jay-jay-okocha-on-and-off-the-field-he-was-the-captain-you-looked-for/) [Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/) ## 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 Albums quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) [Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People think because I've got some success, I've made it, but in my eyes it's like, 'How long has Jay Z been in the business? 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