Hosted by Blackout for Human Rights, the fifth annual MLK Now event took place at the Riverside Church in Harlem, New York, and was where Dr. King gave his historic “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” speech in 1967. Hip-Hop superstar J. Cole returned after participating in the inaugural event to talk about a myriad of topics ranging from his change in rapping to how others in the business are falling victim to drug addictions to hipping everyone to the pitfalls of the entertainment business.

Moderated by Black Panther director (and Oakland, California native) Ryan Coogler, Cole joined the filmmaker and legendary NFL running back Marshawn Lynch for a discussion that touched upon sustainability in one’s career to raising the consciousness of the people through their respective careers. “I never got content,” Marshawn said in response to Coogler’s question on sustainability. “Every day I wake up, I try to maximize the day to the fullest. It gives me a chance to accomplish something that I never did before. Once I set my mind on something, and I lock-in and I’m focused, then there’s nothing that is gonna stop me.”