Aaron Cole - Dove Award Winner & Stellar Award-nominated Gospel Artist Release 3-song Bundle Related to Fatherhood

December 09, 2024

Interviewed and written by Aaron Robinson (Editor) @iamcomprehend

Singing and rapping since a young age, Gospel artist Aaron Cole has become an inspiration to many with his music. Aaron has recently released a 3-song bundle titled OMARI, a project that is dedicated to his son, Omari. The newly released bundle explores Cole’s journey into fatherhood. Some of Cole’s other projects and albums include Sorry I Changed, Sorry I Changed (Again), Two Up Two Down, Not By Chance, 4th Period, Jesus Is the Roc, along with an array of numerous Billboard songs.

I had the opportunity to interview the two-time Dove Award winner and Stellar Award-nominated recording artist, songwriter, and producer, Aaron Cole. Here is what he has to share with the readers.

A. Robinson: Aaron, you were 3 years old when you started your music journey. Did something speak to you or touch your spirit? What inspired you to want to be an artist at such a young age?

Aaron Cole: I grew up in Bristol, Virginia, in a small town where my dad had a studio in our apartment with a church mic and a program called eJay Allstars Hip Hop 4. My uncle was one of the artists who would record, and I would sit in the sessions at the age of 3 or 4. Just looking up to my dad and my uncle, I started mimicking his lyrics and rapping his verses back to him line for line. That sparked their interest in writing for me, and the rest is history. From there, I started performing around the Virginia and Tennessee area and putting out albums and mixtapes at the age of 4!

A. Robinson: You’ve recently released a 3-song bundle that explores your journey into fatherhood titled OMARI that is dedicated to your son, Omari. What was this experience like for you working on these songs? How has fatherhood influenced your artistry?

Aaron Cole: It was interesting, but I loved it! It feels like I got to make music from an even more pure place. It’s also something that I feel good about—when Omari’s grown and I’m old and gone, he can always have this to go back to. Thinking about that gives me chills. Lastly, growing up in front of the world, I felt like this was something special I could share with my supporters. Some of them have seen me since I was a kid, so it felt like a big celebration.

A. Robinson: You’ve worked with some Grammy winning artist on your projects such as Kirk Franklin and Kierra Sheard. When you look over the course of your career since first being signed to Gotee Records at the age of 15, did you foresee or vision yourself as a youth reaching this plateau in-your music career?

Aaron Cole: If I’m being honest… I did. When I was 12 or 13, that’s when I got serious about wanting to do this with my life, and I honestly wasn’t taking no for an answer. I worked my butt off night in and night out because I didn’t have a plan B. I had vision boards and yearly goals that I sought to accomplish, and at 25, I feel like I’ve reached a lot of them to where I now have to make new ones. I always want to be an example to that person… that you can come from small beginnings and actually reach your dreams. I’ve got to be that for the world, but now thinking about it, I get to be that for my legacy, and that is a blessing in itself.

A. Robinson: You became the first Christian hip-hop artist to win the Dove Award for New Artist of the Year, winning your first Dove Award in 2019 at age 20. What kind of gratification was that for you? What was that moment like?

Aaron Cole: Still a top 5 moment in my career for me. At that point in my career, I was hearing so many things about my artistry. “I sing too much. I rap too much. I can’t do both. I need to make music for the radio. I need to do this; I need to do that.” And so, I had a chip on my shoulder that I honestly sometimes still keep. Going into that night, I felt like there were very few who thought I was going to win just because of how the awards have gone in the past. But to me, it felt like I had to win. I had a big year that year, and when they called my name and all my family and friends screamed to the top of their lungs, I had no choice but to be grateful. I’m grateful for my experiences, getting to grow year by year, brick by brick. I feel like my story is about making slow, impactful strides, which I feel builds character. The fast strides I’ve seen come and go, and I’m grateful that the Dove experience was the first of many strides I’ll continue to make until the end of my career.

A. Robinson: What words of inspiration would you share with upcoming artist looking to be successful such as yourself?

Aaron Cole: I would say keep God first and let Him guide your path because sometimes it gets hard not to listen to other people and what THEY think you should do. With that being said, faith without work is dead, so put in the work and reap the results.

For more information on Aaron Cole Visit:

Website: https://www.iamaaroncole.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AColeGospel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamaaroncole/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamaaroncole4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamaaroncole