Jim Jones Reflects on Passing Up Drake, J. Cole & The Weeknd During His A&R Days
Jim Jones recently opened up about the major artists he could have signed during his tenure as Vice President of Urban A&R at Koch Records back in 2009. Appearing on The Art of Dialogue, the Dipset rapper revealed that he had early access to future megastars like Drake, J. Cole, and The Weeknd—but ultimately passed on all three.
According to Jones, J. Cole was a regular at his studio in the early days. “J. Cole used to be in my studio all the time,” he recalled, noting that despite their proximity, he never pursued a formal deal with the then-unknown rapper.
As for Drake, Jones admitted he didn’t fully grasp the Toronto rapper’s appeal at the time. “Alan Grunblatt [Koch VP] let me hear some of his music. But I kept telling him [Drake] had no image. I didn’t understand it, it didn’t connect,” Jones explained. “But he could rap his ass off.” Drake would go on to become one of the biggest names in music, but Jones stands by his former opinion while acknowledging the talent that was clearly there.
When it comes to The Weeknd, Jim Jones shared that a tragic personal loss clouded his judgment. The day he met with the rising singer, his close friend Stack Bundles was fatally shot. “That was a hard day for me… My focus wasn’t there,” he said. While it’s easy to imagine what might have been, Jones says he doesn’t dwell on the missed opportunities. “Would it have been nice? Yeah, that might have been dope. But who knows—they might have not had the success that was given to them from the work they put in if it would have went through the channels that I had to offer.”
The candid reflection adds another layer to Jim Jones’ multifaceted career, which spans rapping, business, and talent scouting. His influence in hip-hop has been long established, but even veterans have moments of hindsight.
Beyond revisiting the past, Jim Jones has also stirred recent headlines for taking jabs at another New York rap legend—Nas. In separate interviews, Jones questioned Nas’ continued relevance, stating his own catalog has aged better. “I’m not a fan of his recent work,” he said, specifically referencing Nas’ post-Illmatic albums.
On the Bagfuel Podcast, Jones doubled down, even suggesting that his comments boosted Nas’ visibility. “What I did for Nas recently probably has never been done in his life,” he claimed. “Last time he was in some viral sh*t like this was when he was getting at Jay-Z.”
Whether reflecting on the past or stirring up present-day debates, Jim Jones continues to remain a provocative figure in hip-hop. His stories offer a rare peek behind the scenes—and a reminder that in the music industry, even the sharpest ears can miss the next big thing.
