An old clip of DMX praising J. Cole is making the rounds online again, and fans are calling the moment full circle.
The resurfaced video comes after J. Cole interpolated DMX's classic "How It's Goin' Down" on the chorus of "Life Sentence," a standout track from his newly released album The Fall Off. Shortly after the album dropped, listeners on X (formerly Twitter picked up on the DMX reference and began resharing an interview clip from more than a decade ago.
In the clip, taken from DMX's 2012 appearance on The Breakfast Club, the late rapper was asked which artists impressed him at the time. Without hesitation, DMX gave Cole his flowers.
"J. Cole is nice, J. Cole is nice," DMX said. "You know I heard his first song on the radio before I even knew who he was, 'Like damn, who's that?' It was something that grabbed my attention like that."
Fans quickly connected the dots, noting how Cole's interpolation feels like a tribute to an artist who recognized his talent early in his career. "Life Sentence" has already drawn attention for its reflective tone, and the DMX interpolation adds another layer of meaning, especially given the late rapper's impact on the genre and his history of speaking candidly about life.
With The Fall Off positioned as a major moment in J. Cole's career, the resurfaced clip serves as a reminder that one of hip-hop's most revered voices saw his potential long before the accolades and chart success followed.