In a new snippet from his Might Delete Later video series,

J. Cole reflects on his journey in the music industry,

expressing gratitude for the experience of paying Jay-Z to obtain his master’s.

The snippet, nestled around the six-minute mark of the latest volume,

finds Cole acknowledging the business side of the industry, rapping:

“Y’all ask Jigga, how much did the kid gross for that label? Paid dues, had to pay dude for my masters, but I’m grateful. Shit, business is business.” In the video, Cole also briefly touches on his initial signing with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2009. He recounts how Jay challenged him to produce hits before releasing a project under their deal, which ultimately pushed him to become a stronger artist. This conversation around master recordings holds significant weight in the music industry, especially in recent years. Taylor Swift’s public dispute over ownership of her masters has brought this issue to the forefront, with artists increasingly vocal about the importance of owning their own work. Even as far back as the late Prince, artists have emphasized the significance of owning their masters. Prince, notably, refused to collaborate with artists who didn’t own their masters.

Jay-Z himself has addressed the importance of owning his masters, stating last October that he wants his children to have access to his work. He made it clear that selling his masters is not something he’s considering, emphasizing the personal and familial significance of his catalog.