J. Cole.

When I was asked to attend SOBs (Sound of Brazil) in New York for yet another showcase, I never thought I'd have the opportunity to meet and interview J.Cole. At the time of this photo, I was working with a hip hop music blog that gave me access to different events however, because the blog was still unknown, I was never granted VIP access to the talent. I think it is profound when someone defies the law of boundaries in order to better themselves and this picture is evidence of that. I remember jumping over an insane amount of people in order to follow Cole into the back of the venue. Luckily, I had some help from one of the ladies working that night. She secretly opened the door to allow me into the VIP section. One thing I noticed about Cole was his deeply affectionate-almost romantic eyes. He has a down to earth way about him and I could tell he was following his heart in music. When this photo was taken, Cole was still underground but has since flourished as an artist, activist, and role model in the black community.