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These are both references to his musical work. The first is Cole World, his first album as a rapper. The second line “snowy days” hints at his mixtape The Warm Up, which despite the name showed Cole dressed in a jacket in the middle of a snowy night.
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That's the dual principle, sometimes I'ma be about some hoes
Sometimes I'ma wanna make a movie Chance the Rapper (Ft. Twista & VIC MENSA) – Cocoa Butter Kisses
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Twista prides himself on rapping about topics other than the stereotypical themes associated with the rap game, like drugs and guns. An Uzi is a type of submachine gun. He prefers to talk about women or switch it up and “Make A Movie,” as he once said.
Explain the newer shit, rockin' jewel shit J. Cole – Ain't That Some Shit (Interlude)
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When he came into the game he was humble and grateful to be in it, but he must now explain the jewels to people. He must explain that he has become so famous he is able to afford jewels with little issues, and it has become a common thing to him while it is a luxury to others.
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The grind that an artist puts into the music industry in not temporary or minimum in any way. If you want to make it as a big name such as J. Cole you have to put work in around the clock to reach his level of fame.
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What is this?
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What is this?
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What is this?
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The “you” is the music that Cole so enjoys in his life. Whenever he was depressed the music was always there for him to release his feelings. The music helped him release his feelings even when it wasn’t there, which means even when he was just writing lyrics for a song in silence.
Alternately, he may be talking about God. Even though God is not always present in every decision and moment in our lives, he’s always right where we need him to be. By not being there he helps us learn from our mistakes, and by being there he prevents us from going down the wrong path.
Another reference is he could also be reaching out to his fans, saying that they were always where he needed them to be, whether backing him up from the get go or discovering him after he made his come up.
He could also be talking to the person e was referencing in the previous verse (I.e. After the second verse it would be his mum) and saying that she knows what he needs even without saying; when he needs her support she is there for him but when he needs his time alone she knows that too and so gives him it (which is when she is there but not there)
I thought about the God alternative, and I agree. The other thought I had was talking about people in general: He’s determined to better himself before he dies no matter what others think because they were there at one point in time and may not have been there at another, but he was always there through all of his own matters/events.