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J. Cole’s Odyssey: From Fayetteville to Fame and Beyond

Jermaine Lamarr Cole, known as J. Cole, was born in 1985 on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. His upbringing in a diverse environment shaped his musical and personal perspective, infusing a unique blend of insights into his lyrics.

Musical Beginnings and Rise to Fame

J. Cole’s journey began with his debut mixtape “The Come Up,” catching the attention of Jay-Z and leading to his signing with Roc Nation. His early works showcased his storytelling prowess and set the foundation for his distinctive style in the hip-hop industry.

Critical Acclaim and Commercial Success

Cole’s albums, such as “Cole World: The Sideline Story” and “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” received widespread acclaim for their introspective lyrics and social commentary. These works established him as a significant figure in the music industry, both for their artistic depth and commercial success.

Contributions Beyond Music

Beyond performing, Cole’s impact includes his role as a record producer and founder of Dreamville Records. His influence extends to nurturing new talent and shaping the future of hip-hop music.

Philanthropy and Community Involvement

J. Cole is also recognized for his philanthropic efforts, focusing on community development and youth empowerment. His contributions highlight his commitment to social causes and community upliftment.

Exploration in Professional Basketball

Displaying his multifaceted talents, Cole ventured into professional basketball, reflecting his passion for the sport and his dedication to pursuing diverse interests outside of music.

Legacy and Influence

J. Cole’s legacy in the music industry is marked by his profound influence on contemporary hip-hop, his ability to weave complex narratives, and his dedication to authenticity. His journey inspires aspiring artists and underscores the power of resilience and creativity.

https://www.biography.com/musicians/j-cole https://www.discogs.com/artist/750828-J-Cole https://www.complex.com/music/a/complex/j-cole-talks-roc-nation-meeting-jay-z-the-warm-up-mixtape https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/j-cole-cole-world-sideline-story/

https://www.mtv.com/news/i56f2c/j-cole-2014-forest-hills-drive-album   https://www.allmusic.com/artist/j-cole-mn0001089515#biography https://www.xxlmag.com/j-cole-interview-dreamville-music-next-dynasty/

https://thegrio.com/2023/06/13/j-cole-walks-the-walk-of-activism-and-charity/

https://www.si.com/nba/2023/06/16/j-cole-eric-church-involved-in-new-hornets-ownership-group-michael-jordan-sale https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/18/was-j-coles-move-from-hip-hop-to-pro-basketball-a-mere-marketing-stunt

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The Journey of J. Cole's Career

Yes that one.

Fayetteville, North Carolina's Jermaine Cole, depending on who you ask, is often considered a GOAT of the industry in terms of his lyricism, production, and ability to "go platinum with no features." From his first mixtape in 2007, The Come Up, to his most recent album in 2021, The Off-Season, Cole has gone from a young rapper trying to make it to a peer among the greats.

1999-2008: Early work and The Come Up

Growing up, J. Cole wasn't really interested in pursuing a career in music as he was more focused on Basketball, his education, and supporting his family.

Not until the early 2000s when his mother bought him an ASR-X music sampler did he actually start to pursue a career in rapping/music production. And in 2002 when he bought the Roland TR-808 drum machine, he started to post his music on various internet forums under the monikers of Blaza and Therapist.

And in 2007 Cole dropped his first mixtape, The Come Up with samples from Ye West, Nas, Jay-Z, and Ghostface Killah while also starting Dreamville Records.

2009 - 2015: Roc Nation signing and going Platinum

In 2009 when Cole released The Warm Up he had already appeared on Jay Z's The Blueprint 3 and Wale's album Attention Deficit. He also became the first artist signed by Roc Nation after previously standing out in the rain just to meet Jay Z. And in the following year he was featured in Beyond Race's 50 Great Breakthrough Artists and XXL 2010 Freshman Class a yearly publication that focuses and promotes new and rising artists.

In 2011, Cole began to network with other growing artists as much as possible. He toured with Drake in the UK and produced for Kendrick Lamar, while also working with Rihanna and Trey Songz in their music video for Can't Get Enough. By the end of 2011 Cole released his first studio album Cole World: The Sideline Story which became his first Platinum album practically showcasing his breakthrough into the rap scene and wish to be among the greats. And in 2012 Cole was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys.

2013 and 2014 was 2 big years for J Cole's career as he released 2 studio albums. His second album Born Sinner went double platinum off its release and carried through with his promise of solidifying himself among the greats. Cole stated that the album's intention was to "reinvigorate himself both mentally and creatively." And in 2014 Cole released one of the greatest albums, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, as it was one of the first albums to go platinum without any features. With this album Cole wished to recount his unique but relatable upbringing. He speaks about the transition from leaving North Carolina to New York to what it took in order to find his success and fame.

Cole's own recording company released Revenge of the Dreamers with all the artists within the record label as well in 2014. and also released Revenge of the Dreamers II in 2015

2016-2020: Music with Interscope

Exactly 2 years after 2014 Forest Hills Drive, J Cole released 4 Your Eyez Only which again went platinum with no features. In this album Cole takes inspiration from an old friend's tragic life story of selling crack to falling in love and starting a family.

From 2016-2018 Cole led a relatively quiet life after going on tour, but in 2018 Cole released KOD in which he gives commentary on the twisted nature of capitalism, unfaithfulness, and addiction. Rather than his usual themes of talking about his or someone else's life, Cole decided to use his platform in the rap scene to try to have an open discussion with the world. And after touring for the album, Cole became more and more active in being apart of the social scene of the NBA.

In 2019 Cole released the third Dreamville album Revenge of the Dreamers III, and in 2020 he collaborated with Puma to release his own shoe teasing his future album

Present: His Latest Albums and what his plan is for the future

At the start of 2021, Cole released The Off-Season where he talks about the pandemic and trying to live modestly even though he is rich and famous. He also uses the album to reflect on his previous successes. Although not much is known on his plans for the future Cole has said that he plans on releasing 2 more albums before retiring from music. But this will likely be after he makes another Revenge of the Dreamers.

How To Start A Music Career In Rap

J. Cole – A Hero’s Journey (J. Cole Biography)

• Drew Morisey
• July 24, 2019

The literary scientist of stories, Joseph Campbell , created 12 steps to storytelling, known as The Hero’s Journey.

If Campbell’s process was good enough for George Lucas to create Star Wars , it is good enough for hip-hop. 

The young Fayetteville North Carolina rap legend J. Cole has helped warm up a cold world with his brand of relatable hip-hop. 

But how did Cole rise up in his city of under a quarter of a million people, a city better known for producing athletes than artists? 

Find out how he turned a Cole World into a warmer one with his brand of relatable hip-hop in the hero’s journey of J. Cole. 

Fayetteville – “The Ordinary World”

Nothing was too ordinary in Cole’s world. 

He was born Jermaine Lamarr Cole on an American military base in Frankfurt, West Germany to an African-American dad in the U.S. Army service and a white mom in the U.S. postal service.  

J and his older brother Zach were raised by their mother. 

Music and basketball were the two things that made Cole feel the most alive.

He served as a first-chair violinist for the Terry Sanford Orchestra at his local high school until 2003. 

The suddenly, hearing the music of 2Pac via his step-father changed everything.

Therapist – “The Call To Adventure”

At age 15, music became a lifestyle for teen Cole. He joined a local rap group called Bomm Sheltuh (Bomb Shelter) , with “Blaza” as his stage name. 

But, the title “Blaza” wasn’t quite cutting it in his crew. So, after doing some digging through the dictionary, young Jermaine became “Therapist” …temporarily.  

When a name like “Therapist” can easily be split in half and be misread as “The rapist, ” it was clearly time for another change up. 

Who says your real name can’t make a great rap name? 

Pulling from Jermaine Cole , the moniker ‘J. Cole’ was born in time to be used on his initial The Come Up mixtape released on May 4 th , 2007. 

Along with his favorite rapper 2Pac, J. Cole also paid close attention to Nas, Jay-Z, Eminem , and Canibus. 

But writing his own rhymes wasn’t enough for J. Cole. He was ready to make magic happen in the producer’s chair too.

Cole’s single mom made quite the sacrifice for her son when she agreed to buy him a $1,300 ASR-X music sampler as a Christmas gift, so he could get gifted with the beats. 

In exchange for the ASR, Cole promised that this production machine would also be his birthday gift.

In addition, he also said ‘yes’ to purchasing his own clothes for the next school year and paid his own way through basketball camp when summer rolled around. 

J. Cole worked hard as a youth, taking on various jobs around Fayetteville. 

He earned checks by being a bill collector, an ad salesman for a newspaper, a file clerk, and even the thankless gig of a skating rink kangaroo mascot. 

NYC – “Refusal Of The Call”

Instead of staying put in his North Carolina hometown of ‘The Ville,’ J. Cole made his way out to The Big Apple … New York City, where getting a record deal was more likely to happen.  

This wasn’t a quick road trip to NYC either. J relocated there when he accepted a college scholarship to St. John’s University. His first major was in computer science.

Cole later converted his college degree path over to the more media-related communication and business area. 

He literally didn’t want to end up with the lonely life he observed of one of his computer science professors. 

Just as he took his academics seriously in high school, Cole graduated magna cum laude in 2007, with a 3.8 GPA.

He also showed early interest in exploring his blackness by becoming the president of Haraya , a pan-African student coalition. 

Jay-Z – “Meeting The Mentor”

Jigga Jay-Z , the founder of the extremely Jay -friendly label Roc Nation, signed J. Cole, like he later did Jay Electronica and Jaden Smith. 

In fact, J. Cole would become the very first post- Roc-A-Fella Records artist that Jay-Z gave a record deal to. 

Jay-Z also became an important mentor in the hero’s journey of J. Cole , but this wasn’t a love at first sight situation. 

Young J. Cole tried to get his big music industry shot by physically standing outside of Jay-Z’s Roc-The-Mic studios with one of his personal beat CDs and a bottle of E&J brandy. 

The wait went on and on… from daylight to nighttime. Cole went from pouring himself E&J to rain pouring above him. Then the future mentor for his hero journey appears. 

J. Cole had previously made a “Produce for JAY-Z or Die Trying” t-shirt, and now was his big chance. 

Nervousness understandably takes over Cole , plus Jay-Z ain’t feeling the sight of that CD in his Cole’s hand. 

“I don’t want that, give it to one of them,” says Jay-Z to J. Cole. 

The beauty of persistence is that if you stay in the game long enough, and stay prepared, you will be ready when your time to shine rolls around.

About a year after Jay-Z curved Cole , it would ironically be Jay-Z himself that would request a meeting with that same kid he avoided. Mark Pitts, the veteran A&R, played one song which set off a series of J-meets-J meetings…and eventually the J. Cole signing to Roc Nation.  

The Warm Up – “Crossing The Threshold”

Things in Cole World began to heat up in 2009 with J. Cole’s first official release on Roc Nation, his second mixtape The Warm Up. 

There were also big boy guest spots on Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 album on the aptly-titled song “A Star is Born” and Wale’s debut album Attention Deficit and mixtape Back to the Feature.

2010 had some dope additions to the J. Cole resume. 

He shared the mic with fellow Roc Nation member Jay Electronica and super rapper Mos Def on Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek’s single “Just Begun”.

Cole also appeared in that respected 2010 XXL magazine cover Top Ten Freshman list, that included future stars Nipsey Hussle, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, Freddie Gibbs, and Jay Rock. 

J. Cole also began his platinum parade with his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story in 2011 , with four huge features: Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Drake, and Trey Songz.

The single “Work Out” went double platinum, and “Can’t Get Enough” went once platinum. 

Speaking of platinum plaques, Born Sinner was the platinum-certified follow-up album in 2013 , with more platinum singles to swing with: “Power Trip” and “Crooked Smile.”

Diddy Scuffle – “Test, Allies, Enemies”

But unfortunately, 2013, came with some industry drama. 

In August 2013 , Cole and Bad Boy Records-founder P. Diddy were allegedly involved in a physical altercation at a 2013 MTV Video Music Awards afterparty.

It has been said to have started when Diddy tried to step to Compton California rapper Kendrick Lamar over Kendrick’s “King of New York” brag in his memorable “Control” verse.

Diddy tried to splash his drink on Lamar, but Cole got involved. 

First Cole and Diddy allegedly had a verbal argument, and then an altercation ensued, getting their respective crews into it as well.  

Thankfully, a few months later, Cole and the music industry giant Diddy reportedly put the beef to rest in a promotional video for Diddy’s media company Revolt , joking about the feud. 

2014 Forest Hills Drive – “Approach To The Innermost Cave”

On December 9 th , 2014, J. Cole dropped his highest selling album to date, the triple platinum epic 2014 Forest Hills Drive.

Named after the exact address of the house he grew up in, in North Carolina , 2014 Forest Hills Drive won Album of the Year at the BET Hip Hop Awards.

2014 Forest Hills Drive also won for Top Rap Album at the Billboard Music Awards.

It also grabbed Best Rap Album nominations at the American Music Awards and the 58 th Grammy Awards. 

J. Cole was now getting the critical acclaim, the respect of the hip-hop community for his talent, and also dynamic mainstream success. 

False Prophets – “The Ordeal”

J. Cole’s 2016 documentary called Eyez contained some controversial songs.

“Everybody Dies” contained apparent shots at some younger rappers that fell into the often- criticized ‘mumble rap’ classification:  namely Lil’ Uzi Vert and Lil’ Yachty. 

Lil’ Yachty spoke up about it during a 2016 interview with Los Angeles’ radio station Power 106:  

“I don’t listen to J. Cole [but] I definitely listened to it [and] people said he was talking about me. He said ‘Lil.’ I’m not little. My name has ‘Lil’ in it but there’s a lot of ‘Lil’ rappers. [It’s] either me or Uzi. Honestly, I don’t give a f*ck.”

Lil’ Uzi Vert didn’t seem to care much about it either. Vert took to Twitter on December 2, 2016 and said:

“Heard some beautiful sh*t today @JColeNC.”

Cole’s song “False Prophets” had more direct critiques, with Cole referencing Kanye West’s ever-changing public image and hospitalization. 

The second verse of “False Prophets” seemed to be taking his buddy Wale to task.  

Cole says that despite Wale’s critical and commercial success, he stays struggling with feeling misunderstood and feeling slighted. 

Wale went as far as to fire off his own diss record at J. Cole called “Groundhog Day” as a response to “False Prophets” .

But both rappers were soon seen together in Raleigh, North Carolina at a North Carolina State University basketball game that very same day. 

Cole spoke about “False Prophets” in an interview with The New York Times , saying:

“Rappers rap about other rappers all the time — subliminal insult, direct attack — but rarely from a place of love…That speaks to the state of us as a people…For so long my mind state was, I have to show how much better than the next man I am through these bars. Who’s the best? Let me prove it. And it’s just like, damn, I’m really feeding into a cycle of keeping black people down, I’m really feeding into that.”

Platinum With No Features – “The Reward (Seizing the Sword)”

Previous generations praised the greatest of the rap king trinity of the late 90s: 2Pac, Jay-Z, and Nas. ( The Notorious B.I.G. unfortunately had way less music than these three.)

In the 2010s , the new kings that seemed to follow in their footsteps became Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and J. Cole. 

J. Cole earned the distinction of becoming ‘Mr. Platinum With No Features ,’ due to his uncanny ability to move over a million on his albums without relying on other special guests. 

The consecutive J. Cole albums that he created that qualify for having no rappers other than him include: 2014 Forest Hills Drive, 4 Your Eyez Only , and KOD . 

On March 2019 , J. Cole even joked about it with GQ magazine, stating: 

“I was like, ‘Word up — this is funny as hell.’ But the second or third time, I was like, ‘All right, it’s almost embarrassing now.’ Like, ‘All right, man, y’all gonna make me put a feature on the album just so this sh*t— can stop.’”

KOD – “The Road Back”

J. Cole proudly stood up against the rampant irresponsible drug use fascination in current music with his 2018 conceptual album KOD.

Cole has shared that KOD stands for Kids on Drugs, King Overdosed , and Kill Our Demons .

On the day KOD was released, it broke the previous record Drake set in 2016 for the album Views by getting 64.5 million streams on Apple Music. 

KOD accumulated 36.7 million streams on Spotify in its first 24 hours as well. 

It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 , becoming Cole’s fifth number one album. 

J. Cole even became the first artist to simultaneously debut three songs in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, with “ATM,” “Kevin’s Heart” and “KOD” .

KOD also had a tour that J. Cole was the headliner of that hit 34 North American dates, and included Young Thug, Jaden Smith, and EarthGang— proving he didn’t hate on newer rappers.

Melissa – “The Resurrection”

J. Cole revealed a bit of his personal life in January 2016 when he was interviewed by the incredible movie director of Black Panther, Creed, and Fruitvale Station … Ryan Coogler. 

Cole admitted that he was already married. 

J. Cole met his wife Melissa Heholt , who he married in 2015 , while they were attending St. John’s University . She is now the Executive Director of the Dreamville Foundation. 

J also shared that he and his wife have a son together.  

Middle Child – “Return With The Elixir”

How big of a 2019 is J. Cole having? His single “Middle Child” is the most successful one of his entire career. 

He performed in his home state of North Carolina during the NBA Allstar Game weekend in Charlotte. 

If that wasn’t enough, J. Cole’s crew Dreamville released their project Revenge of the Dreamers III , with his roster Omen, Bas, Cozz, Lute, Ari Lennox, J.I.D. , and EarthGang. 

Many of Dreamville are dropping their own individual projects throughout 2019 also.  

If we are lucky enough, the most current section of J. Cole’s hero journey will include his next album, currently titled “The Fall Off.”  

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What other rappers do you want us to do a “Hero’s Journey” on?

Comment below: .

– Drew Morisey , @drewmorisey on Instagram and Twitter

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J. Cole, Triumphant (at His Own Pace)

The rapper’s sixth no. 1 album is here. listen to a conversation about his career, and the long exchange between hip-hop and basketball..

Hosted by Jon Caramanica. Produced by Pedro Rosado.

Of hip-hop’s current superstar elite, no one has had a path to the top as curious or unexpected as J. Cole. A decade ago, he had his eye on becoming one of rap’s biggest stars in the mold of Jay-Z and Nas. But when he found the path to the top riddled with compromises, he peeled off to follow his own happiness, resulting in some of the most popular and successful music of his career. He just released his sixth album, “The Off-Season,” which debuted at the top of the Billboard album chart , just like the five that preceded it.

And where is Cole now that he’s No. 1? Playing in the Basketball Africa League, for the Rwanda Patriots. Once more, he is following an unconventional muse, choosing a route that prioritizes internal fulfillment over immediate gain and acclaim.

On this week’s Popcast, a conversation about Cole’s music career, from aspirant to confused victor to triumphant cult hero. Plus, an analysis of his basketball sojourn, and the long and curious exchange between hip-hop and basketball — rappers with hoop dreams and players with rap ambitions alike.

Elena Bergeron, The New York Times’s assistant sports editor

Yoh Phillips, who writes about music for Complex and others, and a founder of Rap Portraits

Inside the World of Sports

Dive deeper into the people, issues and trends shaping professional, collegiate and amateur athletics..

Testing the W.N.B.A.’s TV Limits:  The docuseries “Full Court Press” closely tracked college stars like Caitlin Clark and Kamilla Cardoso. Fans who want to follow elite W.N.B.A. rookies could have a tougher time .

Competing for Olympic Spots:  Two friends had run side by side for more than 10,000 miles. Both vied for a place in the marathon at the Paris Games .

Captivating New York:  It has been 50 years since the Knicks last won the N.B.A. championship. Now, a freshly promising team has enthralled the city .

Americanizing English Soccer:  U.S. investors are gobbling up the storied teams of the English Premier League — and changing the stadium experience  in ways that soccer fans resent.

Wild World of Sports:  Surprisingly often, animals show up uninvited at sporting events. Sometimes, it gets a little weird .

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Buck the System

By Allison P. Davis

Photography by Awol Erizku

You can tell how famous someone is by the number of people assembled in a room, setting things up, ready to spring into action at the exact moment of their arrival. J. Cole has about 12 waiting for him at a studio on the Friday of NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. While he's over at Spectrum Center, finalizing details for his halftime performance on Sunday night, his team has turned a mellow lounge space into a West Elm-decorated war room, preparing to film a few interviews for a documentary he's working on.

A makeup artist gently cleans her brushes, somewhere someone is audibly losing at Ping-Pong, a cameraman angles a tripod to J. Cole height, several people are typing. He enters imperceptibly, all Gumby limbs and soft energy, setting off a slow ripple of awareness as people realize he's there. He makes his way around the room, shaking hands, slapping palms, clapping backs, bumping chests. He pauses and asks if anybody ordered him lunch. Sandwiches freeze on their journey to mouths. Everyone avoids eye contact for a tremulous second, hoping he doesn't notice how the room smells overwhelmingly of french fries, because no, nobody ordered J. Cole lunch.

It's all good, he says, as someone insists he eat the chicken sandwich belonging to the unlucky bastard who's stepped out to find a phone charger. Someone puts his otherwise decorative Jordans to their intended athletic use, running to get a menu for him.

All-Star Weekend is a big bang-level collision of NBA and hip-hop celebrity, resulting in a supernova of spectacle and professional obligations. Some people thrive—attending every event from the big game to a runway show for celebrity babies. But for Cole, it's a weekend dense with the aspects of fame that make him uncomfortable. The day before, he made the nearly three-hour drive from his couch, his wife, and their toddler son in Raleigh to fulfill the duties required of a local hero performing at a major event in his home state.

He sighs. “Everybody hits me up. I got people texting me, like, ‘Bro, I can't believe you're performing the All-Star Game halftime show. Ain't that so crazy?’ In my mind, I'm just like, ‘Bro, this feels like a job—you know what I mean?’ ” J. Cole is social, for sure—he's loved going out ever since going out meant chasing girls at the skating rink. But he's notoriously introverted when it comes to events like this. “I don't like center-of-attention-type moments,” he says. “Like the camera, mad people, the world watching the arena, and I have to do something right.”

His lunch finally in front of him, Cole propels his long dreads out of the way and takes a huge bite of his burger. He's projecting some old anxieties, he explains. In 2012 he played in the All-Star Weekend's celebrity game and avoided the spotlight for most of his time on the court. “It's funny. I had Kevin Hart close to me, and I noticed he was like purposely trying to get in the camera. He wasn't as big as he is now. He had this energy that like, ‘You're gonna see me.’ Me on the other hand, nah…,” he trails off, wiping ketchup off a single lock that didn't make it to safety. “It feels like an invasion of privacy.”

Cole grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina—about an hour south of his current home base of Raleigh.

J. Cole might be a famous musician, but in some ways he tries to live life like he's not. Home is in North Carolina, where he can play basketball at a local gym for hours without being disturbed. Fans and gossip blogs didn't know he was married until director Ryan Coogler accidentally revealed it in an interview. This reticence for attention can be read as a specific kind of obstinacy. He's famously uncompromising when it comes to his success. He achieves it on his terms: He doesn't work with a lot of other artists, he doesn't drop a lot of singles, he doesn't do a lot of press. He favors fan-centric releases, like surprise listening parties or Apple Music pre-order pages that spring up just before an album is available, over advance announcements (and did so long before it was the prevailing business model). And he doesn't fulfill the traditional expectations of a career in music, eschewing showier displays of status. He tried stardom the conventional way, retreated, retooled, and then achieved real success by trying it again.

For someone so notoriously reserved, Cole's willingness to submit to three days of privacy invasion might seem to signal some evolution in his relationship to fame, but that's not quite it, he corrects me. It's not fame he's embracing, just a new sense of openness. “I'm trying not to be as stubborn about it all,” he explains.

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It's like this, he says, quickly spinning a parable so I can understand him. Recently he got some time to travel with his family. They went to Maui. He really wanted to just chill, but the others wanted to do the only thing you're truly supposed to do when you're a tourist in Maui: take the road to Hana to see a majestic waterfall. “I never wanna do excursions. It feels like work. It's like, I ain't trying to get up at 6 A.M., take the three-hour drive to where we're going hiking.” Years ago, he might have insisted on hanging back and going to the beach alone. But he realized, “I got somebody I care about saying, ‘Come on, like, we need to do this.’ ” So he did. “I realize, like, memories come from getting out of my comfort zone—great memories.”

Now, at 34, one might say, J. Cole is undertaking the professional equivalent of a journey up the road to Hana. Appearing here at the All-Star Game is just one move in a course correction he seems to be making (and making very much on his own terms). He's suddenly collaborating with other artists, especially those on his own Dreamville label; he's forming new connections to the SoundCloud set that once confused him; he's more active on Twitter; he even recently bought a place in New York City.

“I've reached a point in my life,” he tells me, “where I'm like, ‘How long am I gonna be doing this for?’ I'm starting to realize like, oh shit—let's say I stopped this year. I would feel like I missed out on certain experiences, you know? Working with certain artists, being more collaborative, making more friends out of peers, making certain memories that I feel like if I don't, I'm gonna regret it one day.”

J. Cole in the poster-lined basement of the Sheltuh, his Raleigh, North Carolina, studio.

So if this were Cole's last year making music, how would he feel? (Don't worry, he assures me, he's not quite ready to stop—even if fans have a trick-knee-before-it-rains feeling that his next album might be his last.) Put simply, J. Cole is one of the most popular rap artists of this generation. His two early mixtapes, The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights, are considered classics. He's released five albums, all of them platinum-certified chartbusters. Three of these went platinum with no features—as in, without the help of appearances by other artists. To J. Cole diehards, this is a point of pride they love to recite in response to a mention of “Drake” or “Kendrick” or any other name in the “generation's best rapper” debate. So much so that the phrase “J. Cole went platinum with no features” has become a persistent slogan, like something advertising execs dreamed up around a conference table. “I was loving it,” he says. “I was like, ‘Word up—this is funny as hell.’ But the second or third time, I was like, ‘All right, it's almost embarrassing now.’ Like, ‘All right, man, y'all gonna make me put a feature on the album just so this shit can stop.’ ”

There's a shadow version of that phrase, too, though: J. Cole went platinum with no Grammys. It's always a little surprising to remember that. Especially since his well-received last album, KOD , broke multiple streaming records on Spotify and Apple Music.

Cole has stopped letting it bother him. In fact, he's found a way to be grateful that his nomination in 2012 for best new artist didn't result in a win (which he desperately wanted at the time). “It would've been disastrous for me, because subconsciously it would've been sending me a signal of like ‘Okay, I am supposed to be this guy.’ But I would've been the dude that had that one great album and then fizzled out.”

He describes his evolution in thinking with the sort of emotional intelligence associated with people who discuss how often they meditate. “I'm not supposed to have a Grammy, you know what I mean?” he says. “At least not right now, and maybe never. And if that happens, then that's just how it was supposed to be.”

Cole has this way of talking to people. When it's time to really talk, like mind-meld talk, he'll gently touch a knee, a forearm, a shoulder. He has a habit of grasping at his chest and then taking those same hands and gesturing emphatically toward my heart, like he's trying to inject what he means right into me. He asks questions and then follow-up questions. (Coincidentally, or prophetically, one of his early rap monikers was Therapist.) After a while, he rises to pull on a black hoodie and drifts into another corner of the room, where he sits in the middle of the group and slouches low in a leather chair. All the bodies in the room gradually shift so their knees are pointing in his direction, like a school of fish instinctively swimming toward the same point. He grabs an acoustic guitar that's usually decorative and starts to strum. Even while still, he looks pensive, like he's solving all the problems all the time—it's his heavy brow. It gives him resting worry face.

He's interrupted by a phone call, Colin Kaepernick on FaceTime. He greets Kaepernick with big, warm congratulations. News had just broken a few hours ago that Kaepernick had agreed to settle his lawsuit against the NFL—for a payday some sources estimate could be as high as $100 million.

“You're buying me dinner when I'm in New York,” Cole says with a laugh. After about ten minutes of him mm-hmm-ing while the two presumably discuss the headlines, Cole hangs up. They've been cut short by a bad connection. The room around him starts debating Kaepernick's choice to settle rather than go to court. Was he selling out, or was he being smart? Did the NFL get off easy? “Listen, justice was served,” Cole says, noting the wisdom in Kaepernick's move. “This man got his money, know what I mean? Plus,” Cole speculates, “he'll probably play again.”

Maybe it's the nonchalant way he's plucking guitar strings while he talks, but Cole's presence has the same effect as strong indica. Everyone's relaxed and in a heady space, trying to draw profound conclusions from pop culture. It feels like a glimpse of how Cole must have held court in his dorm room at St. John's University in Queens: a little self-serious, a little goofy, reasonably asserting that he's right—every sapiosexual's wet dream, basically.

The next afternoon, Cole and other Dreamville artists are hosting a brunch in support of the label, and by 4 P.M. the event has reached full-day party—the tequila near the ice luge is running dangerously low. It's cold for Charlotte, even for February, and I find myself huddled over a fire pit next to Amin El-Hassan, the cousin of Cole's manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad. They've all been friends since Cole and Ib were both at St. John's, where Cole was studying when he recorded his first mixtape, The Come-Up , in 2007. Ib helped send copies to music blogs, radio stations, record labels, and his cousin Amin, who had started working for the Phoenix Suns and who decided to place Cole's CD on the chair of every player on the roster.

According to Amin, the plan to get the music out worked. Amar'e Stoudemire loved what he heard and wanted to sign Cole to his label, Hypocalypto. Amin couldn't believe it. He called Ib to deliver the news that he thought would make Cole's career. Amin laughs now, acknowledging that his intervention really wasn't needed: “Ib said, ‘Oh, thanks, man, but we've got some bigger fish to fry.’ ”

The bigger fish was Jay-Z, who signed Cole to Roc Nation in 2009, making him Patient Zero for the nascent label. Jay-Z's endorsement, it seemed, all but guaranteed success. But Cole realized he wasn't going to put out an album immediately. He had to wait. The label, it seemed, had its formula: single, radio play, album. Cole couldn't release an album until he had a single. “I'd never thought about a single before—I didn't even care,” he says. “I kinda wanted my first album to be, like, an undeniable classic, and I didn't care if it sold.” Trying to jump-start the process, he brought the label “Who Dat,” he says, laughing at himself as he recalls how he thought that that was a single: “The hook is who dat, who dat . There's zero melody. No radio station can play that.” While he figured out what a J. Cole radio single sounded like, he was antsy and worried he'd lose the growing fan base he'd built. So he put out another mixtape, Friday Night Lights .

Finally, after two years at Roc Nation, he made “Work Out,” a single he felt had his “DNA all over it,” and was good enough, by the label's standards, to put out his first album, Cole World: The Sideline Story , in 2011. He wanted his next album, 2013's Born Sinner , to be as successful, so he stuck to the same model.

It was never the label he was rebelling against, exactly. It was a type of thinking that put him in a “cloudy” place, unable to record the classic album he wanted to: What do people want? What does a superstar look like? What music does a superstar make? Basically, run-of-the-mill, mid-20s-identity-formation stuff.

Cole can recall the exact catalyst for the change—he could pull it out of the closet, actually. It's the Versace sweater he's talked about before, often, the way people talk about an ex who hurt them so badly it reset the course of their life. It was the 2013 BET Awards, he had a stylist, the stylist brought out The Sweater: a baroque, gauche black pullover printed with huge interlocking gold medallions. It was gaudy enough to cause a crisis of self. He wanted to wear something else, but everyone in the room said, “ ‘Nah, I think you need to do this,’ ” Cole recalls. “I remember it like, ‘Nah, bro, you gotta step it up a level, you gotta own some superstar shit,’ almost with the implication that I could be further along if I just looked like a star. This is what the people want to see.”

Two other artists got that exact memo, too. All three of them showed up on the red carpet wearing the sweater, styled the exact same way—thick, ropy gold chains, black jeans, black shoes. Cole also added his own flair—sunglasses and a soul patch. It was Us Weekly 's “Who Wore It Best?” column happening in red-carpet real time, except, well, there were really no winners. “Man, look, no disrespect to French, but I feel like this some shit French Montana would have on. I'm like looking in the mirror like, ‘Who the fuck is this?’ ”

He realized he'd lost touch with who he was: Jermaine Cole from Fayetteville, who'd always wanted to make music. Except for the brief moments when he'd wanted to be an archaeologist as a kid, or maybe play in the NBA. He'd been running headlong at his goal since college (but really since he was 12). Now he was depressed, and the confidence he'd always had was shaken. Luckily, he had two albums that made him successful enough to pause, relax a little, turn inward, and figure out how to change everything he was doing.

He rented a house in L.A. He learned to meditate. He recorded 2014 Forest Hills Drive , an album that was a reaction to everything he disliked about making the first two albums, really. He didn't record a single, he didn't have any features, he hosted a listening event for fans at his childhood home, revealing the address the day of. He was risking a ton to do it his way and was pretty sure it might be the last album he ever made, but it turned out to be bigger than anybody expected. By 2015, when he was done touring for the album, he was visible enough to disappear into the oak trees of Raleigh for a while.

For the first time since he used to mainline The Boondocks in his dorm room in college, Cole had time to sit on a couch and binge-watch TV. He watched all of Narcos and, he admits, unsure if I'd ever heard of it, Odd Mom Out . I had. (We agreed that Jill Kargman is hilarious and the show should never have been canceled.) He ditched the architectural red-carpet facial hair and grew a shaggy retirement beard, let his dreadlocks hit shoulder-length. He played in basketball rec leagues, four or five games a week. He got married, built a crib, recorded 4 Your Eyez Only , and didn't really promote it. The album went platinum anyway.

These days, he says, people ask him all the time whether being a father has changed him. The question has prompted some reflection, Cole admits. “For a while, I felt a little weird about it. Like, nah. I felt, ‘Did I miss something?’ 'Cause I didn't feel the change that people talk about. And then I figured out what it was,” he says. “I changed my life in order to get ready to have a family and to have a son. I literally changed my life, where I was living, the things that I was doing. I changed. So because of that, when my son came, I was ready. I already made room.”

Part of what people like about J. Cole—and part of what other people like to joke about when they talk about J. Cole—is how he's always sort of been Dad. He's the kind of guy who'll offer unsolicited advice to young artists via social media or, when it comes to his music, will veer into socially conscious “rap lite.” For fans, it's what they connect to; for critics, it's ammunition. “Listen,” he says, shrugging it off, “you got people that fuck with me, fuck with what I'm saying, agree. And then you have people that don't fuck with me.”

Liking J. Cole has always been sort of polarizing—it's sport to be a fan or a detractor. His lyrics are thoughtful or boring, his earnestness is relatable or corny. The fact that he wore an orange prison jumpsuit during his tour for 4 Your Eyez Only is either poignant or reaching. He's hot because he seems like he'd use knowledge of both Tantric sex and the lyrics to Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers ) as seduction tools, or he's hot despite that appearance. If you're a stan, a song like “Wet Dreamz” is a vulnerable, nostalgic song about losing your virginity. If you're not, the lyrics feel so much like doodles in a Lisa Frank notebook, you want to listen to them in the fetal position.

We're in his trailer outside the arena where he's set to perform tonight. He's just rehearsed his ten-minute medley about five times, each run-through providing evidence for exactly why people do “fuck with” him. In addition to his own hits, the set includes the verse Cole supplied for the 21 Savage track “A Lot.” The fact that “A Lot” is such a big hit among pretty much everyone—SoundCloud kids and conscious rap fans alike—is part of why 2019 already feels like a new moment for Cole.

He'll have to adjust some of the lyrics in the show so that they meet FCC standards, and he admits he's a little worried about messing up the words, but he feels good about the rehearsal.

A question I keep asking, in various ways, over the course of the weekend is whether he's annoyed that people call his music heavy-handed. I don't get a real answer. I ask again, subbing in different adjectives to get my point across: “boring,” “preachy,” “too earnest.”

“So. People don't actually say that, by the way,” he finally says, a tiny bit suspicious of what I'm driving at. He pauses.

“Oh,” he says, suddenly full of recognition. “I just figured out what you're asking about: ‘finger wagging.’ I know exactly which review you're talking about.”

Critics have taken particular aim at the last song on his 2018 album, KOD , “1985 (Intro to ‘The Fall Off’),” which seemed to chastise younger SoundCloud rappers. (In the song, Cole didn't name names, but it sounded like he had specific targets.)

Cole is frustrated that that song was misunderstood. “ ‘Bother’ is a strong word, but it's more like I observed that, like, so many people don't even understand nuance,” he says. “If the first time you heard me was [2011's] ‘Nobody's Perfect’ with Missy Elliot, and then you just casually follow along, I can't expect you to know the nuances of my tone and my intentions.” He stands up to put food in the microwave, which promptly blows a fuse. The whole trailer goes dark. Cole sits back down and switches on the flashlight of his iPhone. He won't let the power outage interrupt his point.

“They say, ‘Oh, finger wagging,’ because they think I'm like, ‘You little rapper,’ ” he says, imitating a schoolmarm, waving a ruler. “But I'll play that for somebody that's a deeply invested or deeply rooted hip-hop fan, or somebody that just knows me, or knows the climate of what's going on, and they hear that and they go, ‘Whoa, I see what you just did there. Bro, do you know what you just did? You just put your arm around this dude and walked him. Instead of attacking him, you put your arm around him on some little-bro shit.’ ”

Not long ago, Cole tried to put his arm around one of his biggest detractors, Lil Pump, another one of the face-tatted enfants terribles to emerge from the SoundCloud birth canal recently. In April 2017, Lil Pump released a song called “Fuck J. Cole,” with Smokepurpp. “I see now that it was marketing genius,” explains Cole. “Disrespecting somebody with a bigger platform, who hasn't yet been disrespected in that way so it seems kind of taboo, would get huge attention. Like, if I go out and scream ‘Fuck Oprah,’ I would get so much attention off it, it would be crazy.”

Pump and Cole met at a festival last spring, and they got along. Cole thought Pump was incredibly smart and extended an invitation to do an hour-long interview to talk it all out. “Honestly, my intention was to show the world how smart he was and to have a conversation that kind of reveals who this kid is,” Cole says. “I don't think that was the outcome, because I think he put a wall up. It doesn't change the fact that he is a smart kid.”

The makeshift vocal booth in Cole's studio also houses his record collection.

Exactly 1,000 —no more, no less—of J. Cole's biggest fans are lined up in the cargo level of the Spectrum Center. It's about 20 minutes before Cole's halftime show, but they've been waiting for five hours to be on the court while J. Cole performs for ten minutes. It took a ton of coordination to get everyone to North Carolina, to the arena, into the line, but having fans here was important to Cole, who didn't want to rap to corporate suites or to suits with floor seats—he wanted it to feel like a real performance. Or as Karma, the Uber driver who dropped me at the stadium, summed it up: “He raps for fans. Not awards.” (“Her name was really Karma? Tight,” Cole says when I relay the story.)

It's mellow backstage. Even the Hornets mascot is taking a break from his hype-man duties: He's posted up on a chair reading, through his costumed hornet head, Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me . Two teen girls in line immediately identify me as an outsider, despite the talent badge that grants me access, and one snidely says, “Talent? What's your talent?”

When he takes the stage, Cole's performance is the sort of subtle, carefully considered show you'd expect if you've ever seen him live. Even at halftime of an exhibition basketball game, Cole is a magnetic entertainer. He seems to know when a song needs to come from his head versus his heart versus his sacral chakra, so the audience can feel it there, too. And he raps standing in fourth position—tonight in a vintage Hornets jacket and light-wash jeans, swaying like a ballet-trained stoner. His movements are elegantly lazy, but his tongue is not. He hit all of the triplets. If he was worried about missing words, he didn't need to be.

Later that night, away from the television cameras, a different Cole took the stage across town at The Fillmore. It was the J. Cole who's willing to try new things, playing a late-night concert with his Dreamville artists in front of a packed house of fans. Cole treats the night like a happening—there's no set list, audience members can request songs, Ib is just going to play whatever track he wants to, and everyone has to join in. There were a lot of forgotten lyrics.

As Cole describes it, what happened onstage at The Fillmore was similar to the recent recording sessions for Revenge of the Dreamers 3 , the compilation project that's been capturing his creative energy of late. Cole invited members of the Dreamville roster to record with him, cordially requesting the presence of artists via Instagram post. (He did forget some people, he admits sheepishly.) They spent ten days in an Atlanta recording complex, swapping ideas, getting into rap battles, collaborating, and churning out 127 songs that will be whittled down into an album.

“It was like Disneyland or some shit,” Cole says. He'd be in one room laying down a track, singer Ari Lennox would be in another working with a group of mostly female singers and musicians, Saba would be in his own space. At one point, Cole got a text: “Come to room 222.”

“I ran in,” he recalls excitedly. “The room was thick with smoke, and Buddy, this rapper from Compton, played me this song that felt like a Pharcyde song.”

That experience, he says, has opened him up a lot. Cole realized that there was this perception of him that he didn't really like anymore: “I've been so secluded within myself that people think I don't like anybody, that I won't work with anybody. It's a reputation that's been extending to my artists, too.”

So, feeling guilty—and feeling eager to try new things—he's changing his approach a bit. “I don't even know how this shit works all the way anymore, the game,” he says. “And if I don't know, I've got to learn.” It's why he put out “Middle Child,” the first single he's released outside of his usual album cycle in years. And he might even—maybe!—have some actual features in the future. He dials it back a bit. “Well, I don't have any right now that I really want to boast about,” he tells me. “Not saying it's impossible. It's just about getting out of my comfort zone,” he says cautiously.

Onstage at The Fillmore, Cole has just forgotten most of the words to an early song he recorded, and Wale, who surprised the audience by joining in, picks up the slack on Cole's verse. Cole laughs it off. It doesn't matter; everyone performing—Bas, J.I.D., Lennox—keeps forgetting lyrics due to some combination of joy, alcohol, and general rustiness (they haven't performed some of these songs in a long time).

There are moments when Cole stops the show to try to turn the chaos back to order, but there were other moments when, his toe edging beyond his comfort zone, he just says fuck it and gives in to whatever is going to happen.

Earlier, when Cole told me the story about the hike in Maui—about waking up early and forcing himself to do something he normally wouldn't—I had wanted to know whether it was all worth it. “Oh, it was incredible,” he said. “Amazing. And it wasn't just the waterfall.” Cole described a walk through a forest where he encountered some enormous exotic trees that made these huge nuts—“they're like coconuts but not coconuts,” he explained, still surprised at everything new, everything he'd almost missed.

Allison P. Davis is a feature writer at The Cut.

A version of this story originally appeared in the April 2019 issue with the title "Buck the System."

PRODUCTION CREDITS: Photographs by Awol Erizku Styled by Mobolaji Dawodu Grooming by Barry White for barrywhitemensgrooming.com Hair by Wil Coreas , @_wil_the_barber_ Hairstyling by Timesha Akoni for Tresses By Timesha Produced by Jeff Vespa and Michelle Woo

Exploring the J Cole Discography: His 6 Albums in Order

When it comes to hits, there are plenty to find within the J Cole discography . J. Cole, a masterful storyteller and a beacon of lyrical depth in the hip-hop world, has carved out a niche for himself with his insightful narratives and compelling production . His discography is a testament to his evolution as an artist, with each album marking a significant phase in his career. From the raw emotion and hunger of his early work to the introspective and mature themes of his later projects, J. Cole 's albums are a journey through the life of a man who has remained true to his roots while navigating the complexities of fame and personal growth. Here's a look at J. Cole's studio albums, each offering a unique window into his soul and the world as he sees it.

RELATED: The 25 Best Albums of the 90s, Ranked

6. Cole World: The Sideline Story

Top Songs: "Work Out," "Can't Get Enough," "Lights Please"

Release Year: 2011

J. Cole 's debut studio album, Cole World: The Sideline Story , was a bold introduction to the rap scene, blending heartfelt narratives with vibrant beats. It was here that J. Cole established his knack for storytelling, weaving personal experiences with broader social commentary. The album's diverse sound palette, from soulful samples to crisp hip-hop beats, showcased Cole's versatility as both a rapper and a producer. Hits like "Work Out" and "Can't Get Enough" not only climbed the charts but also solidified Cole's place in the mainstream. Yet, it's the introspective tracks like "Lights Please" that truly define the album's essence, revealing Cole's deep reflections on love, ambition, and the complexities of life.

5. Born Sinner

Top Songs: "Power Trip," "Crooked Smile," "Let Nas Down"

Release Year: 2013

With Born Sinner , J. Cole took a darker, more introspective turn, delving into themes of temptation, redemption, and the struggle between good and evil within. The album's narrative arc reflects Cole's personal battles and growth, making it a profoundly introspective piece in the J Cole discography. "Power Trip," featuring Miguel , stands out as a poignant love song, while "Crooked Smile," with TLC , serves as an anthem of self-acceptance and resilience. "Let Nas Down" is a standout, capturing the raw emotion of Cole's reaction to criticism from one of his idols, showcasing his vulnerability. "Born Sinner" is a testament to Cole's ability to connect with listeners on a deeply personal level, making it a pivotal chapter in his musical journey.

4. 2014 Forest Hills Drive

Top Songs: "No Role Modelz," "Apparently," "G.O.M.D."

Release Year: 2014

2014 Forest Hills Drive is not just an album; it's a pilgrimage to J. Cole's roots and a stark introspection of his life's journey . This album, named after the address of his childhood home, represents a full-circle moment, blending nostalgia with growth. The absence of featured artists emphasizes Cole's solo journey, making it a deeply personal narrative. "No Role Modelz" and "Apparently" became anthems of self-discovery and reflection, resonating with fans worldwide. This album, celebrated for its authenticity and raw storytelling, marked a turning point in J. Cole's discography, earning him both critical acclaim and commercial success.

3. 4 Your Eyez Only

Top Songs: "Deja Vu," "Neighbors," "Immortal"

Release Year: 2016

4 Your Eyez Only" further cemented J. Cole's status as a storyteller, with a conceptual depth that explores themes of love, loss, and legacy. This album stands out in J. Cole's discography for its narrative coherence, telling stories that transcend Cole's personal experiences to touch on universal human emotions. The production is minimalist yet impactful, allowing Cole's lyrics to take center stage. "Neighbors" is a chilling reflection on racial profiling and the prejudices faced by African Americans, inspired by a real-life incident at Cole's studio. The album's intimate and reflective nature invites listeners to look beyond the surface, offering a profound commentary on life's fragility and the importance of leaving a legacy.

Top Songs: "KOD," "ATM," "Kevin's Heart"

Release Year: 2018

KOD , an acronym with multiple meanings, showcases J. Cole 's versatility and his ability to tackle complex subjects like addiction, mental health, and societal pressures. This album stands as a powerful critique of contemporary culture and the vices that ensnare the youth. The production on KOD blends trap elements with jazz influences, creating a sound that is as innovative as it is captivating. "ATM" delves into the pitfalls of greed and materialism with a catchy, yet thought-provoking hook, while "Kevin's Heart" offers a nuanced take on infidelity and personal struggle.

1. The Off-Season

Top Songs: "m y . l i f e," "p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l," "a m a r i"

Release Year: 2021

The Off-Season is a masterful blend of J. Cole's lyrical prowess and his reflections on fame, legacy, and the relentless pursuit of greatness. This album, metaphorically tied to the hard work and preparation an athlete puts in during the off-season, serves as a metaphor for Cole's own artistic grind. The inclusion of high-profile collaborations, a departure from his previous solo endeavors, adds a new layer of dynamism to the project. Tracks like "m y . l i f e" and "p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l" showcase Cole's introspective and nuanced examination of his inner demons and the external pressures of success. The Off-Season encapsulates the hunger and passion that have driven J. Cole's career , marking another evolution in his discography and solidifying his place in the pantheon of hip-hop greats.

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J. Cole's Journey as the First Rapper With Six Consecutive No. 1 Studio Albums

As ‘the off-season’ tops the billboard 200 chart in its first week..

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With The Off-Season opening the week on top of the Billboard 200 , J. Cole has officially become the first ever rapper with six consecutive No. 1 studio albums. The 12-track project debuted with 282,000 units, and although it’s on the lower end of the Cole spectrum, the LP currently holds the biggest week of 2021 for any hip-hop album and the second-biggest overall.

To celebrate the Dreamville head’s record-setting feat, HYPEBEAST scoured the Billboard archives and the official  RIAA  records to break down Cole’s solo journey to the top, taking note of the numbers and eventual achievements that pushed all his solo studio albums to the top of the charts.

Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011)

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Where Did J Cole Go to College? Unveiling His Academic Journey

Have you ever found yourself curious about the educational background of your favourite artists? If you’re a fan of J Cole, the renowned rapper, singer, and songwriter, you might have wondered, “Where did J Cole go to college?” Let’s dive into the academic journey of this multifaceted artist and explore the educational institution that shaped his early years.

Table of Contents

Early Life and Education

Jermaine Lamarr Cole, famously known as J Cole, was born on January 28, 1985, in Frankfurt, West Germany. However, his upbringing unfolded in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Raised by a single mother in a modest household, Cole’s childhood was characterized by the challenges of single-parenting and financial constraints.

Despite the adversities, Cole found solace and passion in music early on. He immersed himself in the art form, using it as a means of expression and escape. However, Cole’s mother instilled in him the importance of education as a pathway to success. Recognizing the significance of academic pursuits, Cole dedicated himself to his studies while nurturing his musical talent.

Where did J Cole go to college?

Upon graduating from high school, J Cole decided to pursue higher education. He enrolled at St. John’s University in Queens , New York, marking a significant transition in his life. The move to New York City presented Cole with many opportunities and challenges, laying the foundation for his future endeavours.

At St. John’s University, Cole pursued a degree in Communications, a field that would later complement his career in the music industry. Despite the demands of balancing academics and his burgeoning passion for music, Cole excelled in his studies, graduating magna cum laude. His time at St. John’s University enriched his intellectual growth and allowed him to cultivate his musical talents further.

Musical Pursuits and Recognition

Throughout his college years at St. John’s University, J Cole immersed himself in the vibrant music scene of New York City. He honed his skills as a rapper and songwriter, drawing inspiration from his surroundings and personal experiences. Cole’s dedication to his craft was unwavering, spending countless hours perfecting his lyrical prowess and refining his sound.

His commitment to excellence did not go unnoticed, as he began to garner recognition for his exceptional talent. Local performances and mixtapes showcased Cole’s raw talent and lyrical prowess, setting the stage for his eventual rise to prominence in the music industry.

Rise to Stardom

Following his graduation from St. John’s University, J Cole faced the daunting task of breaking into the fiercely competitive music industry. Armed with a unique blend of intelligence, charisma, and raw talent, Cole embarked on a journey to make a name for himself in hip-hop. He hustled tirelessly, self-producing mixtapes and relentlessly pursuing opportunities to showcase his music.

Despite facing numerous setbacks and rejections, Cole remained steadfast in his pursuit of success. His breakthrough came with the release of his critically acclaimed mixtape, “The Come Up,” which garnered attention and praise from industry insiders and fans alike. From there, Cole’s ascent to stardom was meteoric, propelled by successful mixtapes and collaborations.

His debut studio album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” solidified his status as a bona fide rap superstar, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Since then, Cole has continued dominating the music industry, releasing hit albums and captivating audiences with his introspective lyrics and performances.

Impact and Influence

With each album release, J Cole captivated audiences with his introspective lyrics, compelling storytelling, and distinctive flow. His debut studio album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, solidifying his position as a rising star in the music industry. Subsequent albums, such as “Born Sinner” and “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” further cemented his reputation as one of hip-hop’s most talented artists.

Emphasis on Education and Philanthropy

As J Cole’s star continued to rise, fans began to take notice of his intellectual depth and thought-provoking lyricism. Unlike some of his contemporaries, J Cole’s music often delves into complex social issues, offering listeners a glimpse into his worldview. His willingness to address racism, inequality, and personal struggles has earned him widespread acclaim and respect within the industry.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

J Cole’s influence extends far beyond the realm of music. As an artist unafraid to tackle complex social issues, he has become a voice for change and a source of inspiration for millions worldwide. J Cole has become a cultural icon through his thought-provoking lyrics and philanthropic efforts.

His commitment to addressing topics such as systemic racism, economic inequality, and mental health stigma has sparked important conversations and prompted meaningful action. Whether through his music, activism, or philanthropy, J Cole’s legacy is one of resilience, empathy, and empowerment.

Evolution as an Artist

Over the years, J Cole has continually evolved as an artist, pushing the boundaries of hip-hop and exploring new sonic landscapes. Each project showcases his growth and maturation as a musician and storyteller, from his early mixtapes to his critically acclaimed albums.

J Cole’s willingness to experiment with different sounds and styles has earned him praise from critics and fans alike, cementing his status as one of the most versatile artists of his generation. Whether he’s delivering introspective ballads or hard-hitting bangers, J Cole’s music continues to resonate with audiences of all backgrounds.

Personal Philosophy and Values

At the core of J Cole’s artistry lies a deeply held set of values and principles. From his commitment to education and self-improvement to his advocacy for social justice and equality, J Cole’s philosophy permeates every aspect of his life and work.

He is known for his authenticity, humility, and unwavering dedication to staying true to himself, even in adversity. Through his music and actions, J Cole encourages others to embrace their uniqueness, pursue their passions, and strive for excellence in everything they do.

Despite his immense success as a musician, J Cole has never forgotten the importance of education. His lyrics frequently emphasize the value of knowledge and self-improvement, encouraging his listeners to strive for greatness in all aspects of their lives. In conclusion, the question “Where did J Cole go to college?” holds significant relevance in understanding the journey of this iconic artist.

By attending St. John’s University and earning a degree in Communications, J Cole demonstrated his commitment to his education and passion for music. Today, J Cole continues to inspire audiences worldwide with his music, intellect, and unwavering dedication to positively impacting the world.

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J Cole Dreads Evolution (Detailed Look)

Avid writer on Men's Hair, Grooming, and Lifestyle!

What makes the J Cole Dreads evolution interesting to witness is being able to watch his hair growth in real time. The Hip Hop community was first introduced to J Cole back in 2007 with the release of his 1 st mixtape the come up which saw the young MC sporting a fade and low cut hairstyle.

Today however J Cole has changed his look and style. His Dreads now passing his shoulders in an attempt to communicate freedom from oppression and self-love.

Our editorial piece will take a deep look at J Cole’s Hair throughout the years, discuss his starting formation and how you can achieve a similar look.

1st Dreads in Rap History belongs too?

Before we were praising J Cole dreads it all started with these locs right here! Have a watch to find out who inspired all rappers

How and when did J Cole start his Dreads?

When: We have been fortunate to document his hair journey and by that we can see J Cole Dreads were started back in late 2014/early 2015.

During this time period Cole began his journey with a thick afro twisting sections of hair to create the foundation for his dreads. From the images we can see during this period we can identify the manipulation of his afro setting the foundation for his dreads.

How: People often ask Are J Coles dreads freeform? Yes J Cole’s dreads are semi freeform.

Semi freeform dreads are a particular dread style that allows your hair to grow organically without any manipulation, combing or styling. Hair is washed as per normal with the application of oil to scalp. There is no maintenance technique, size or detailed parting system.

Achieve the Same Look

For those of you taking inspirations from J Cole’s Dreads and wanting to style your hair in semi freeform Locs we advise the following

Talk to a loctician and get a Consultation

Most people start their semi freeform Locs without the help of anyone which is totally fine. While there is no manipulating taking place we still advise you see a loctician who can closely wash and monitor your hair as time progresses

Separate your Roots

As we identified in our Detail section J Cole dreads were started out by growing an afro and then twisting hair. This would then become the foundation for how his locs would grow. Some twists thicker than the others To quote Digitallloctician.com “ You have to ensure that you maintain your parting system and that your locs do not fuse together while semi-freeforming and you do that by “popping your locs” at least once a week.”

One thing you must remember is locs require time and patience. In addition to that no 2 locs are the same. 2 individuals may have the same loctician, request the same style and care for their hair but the results will always differ. The best example here are label mates Jay z and J Cole, though both are freeform Jay-z dreads look different in comparison to J Cole’s.

J Cole’s Hair Gallery throughout the Years 

2007 – 2012

As a freshman J Cole was introduced to the world through mixtapes and visual freestyles which saw the artist in the traditional fade, short back and sides.

2014 – 2015

During this period we began to see J Cole experiment with his hair. At the time it could have been mistaken for Cole just growing an afro. His intentions became recognised as his hair began to loc.

2016 – 2019

For the majority of 2016 it was apparent Cole’s hair was no longer a loose afro but twists forming into locs. His hair growth journey was captured on album covers, interviews and music videos.

Approaching 2017 onwards his hair had matured into semi freeform locs. Thick in density and short in length.  

2019 – Present

Today Coles hair is thick, long and healthy. While music is his number 1 passion he recently joined the Rwanda Patriots Basketball Club, part of the newly formed Basketball Africa League. During games he ties his hair back for minimal interference during a game. 

To stay updated on everything happening in men’s style/lifestyle, street culture & music follow   @heartafact   on Instagram

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Where Is YNW Melly Now? Here’s Everything You Need To Know

J amell Demons, better known by his stage name YNW Melly, is currently awaiting a new trial in a double murder case. Recently named dropped by Kendrick Lamar during his rap feud with Drake and J. Cole, YNW Melly is a rapper accused of shooting and killing fellow rappers, Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas and Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams two years ago.

The first trial was declared a mistrial by the judge on July 22 after the jury failed to deliver a unanimous verdict. Leading up to a second trial, the proceedings have been riddled with accusations from both sides. According to AP News , the prosecution accused the rapper of witness tampering. More recently, a judge denied a defense motion to have the case dismissed. The defense alleged that the prosecution had withheld vital information from the defense during the trial.

As the rapper prepares for his next trial, here is a recap of where YNW Melly is now.

YNW Melly’s Journey From Rap Star to Incarceration

Born on May 1, 1999, in Gifford, Florida, YNW Melly gained popularity for his unique rap style of telling captivating stories of street life, love and personal struggles. Like many aspiring artists in the 2010s, Melly utilized SoundCloud and various social media platforms to share his music. By uploading songs and sharing them with fans, he was able to reach a global audience.

Melly’s collaborations with other popular artists also helped boost his profile as a rapper. Working with artists like Kanye West on the song “Mixed Personalities” brought him recognition and expanded his fan base in the industry.

YNW Melly’s career began to take off in 2017 with the release of tracks like “Murder on My Mind” and “Virtual (Blue Balenciagas),” which garnered millions of views on YouTube and SoundCloud. And though Melly has garnered worldwide success for his music, his rising fame was overshadowed by legal troubles, resulting in his early life being marked by adversity and challenges. Despite facing difficult circumstances, he channeled his experiences into his music while crafting songs that resonate with his fans who have undergone similar struggles.

What Happened to YNW Melly?

In 2019, YNW Melly was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly being involved in the deaths of his friends, YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy. Melly, now 24, allegedly shot two of his friends from inside a car driven by Cortlen Henry (a.k.a. YNW Bortlen). Prosecutors in the case argued that the two then exited and shot through the car to make it look like a drive-by shooting.

The case drew significant media attention and sparked debates within the music industry and among his fans. Such things as the legitimacy of both the justice system and of Melly’s criminal involvement were questioned.

YNW Melly was incarcerated at the Broward County Jail in Florida in 2019 where he remains while awaiting a second trial in October. While Melly’s defense previously has focused on the rapper’s friendship with the victims, along with the fact that a murder weapon was never recovered, Melly’s first trial was ultimately declared a mistrial on July 22 after three days of deadlock from the jury.

What Has Happened in the Case Since October 2023?

Jury selection ended in October for Melly’s retrial after the state appealed a Dec. 20 ruling by the judge that threw out evidence prosecutors have said corroborates Melly’s involvement in the double murders case. If convicted, Melly could be sent to Florida’s death row. Melly, and his childhood friend and recording partner Cortlen Henry who is also on trial, have pleaded not guilty to the two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm in the Oct. 26, 2018 shooting that resulted in the deaths of Christopher Thomas Jr. aka YNW Juvy and Anthony Williams aka YNW SakChaser, who were 19 and 21 years old respectively.

Currently, there is no date for Melly’s retrial. Still, prosecutors have turned to the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach hoping to reverse the Dec. 20 ruling, which excluded pieces of evidence including some of Melly’s phone records, emails and social media posts, as well as a promotional video he released shortly after the murders.

Records show that the judge denied a request from the defense to lift a hold he ordered in the trial proceedings after the state signaled it would appeal his ruling. However, the judge is allowing the prosecution and the defense to conduct discovery activities, such as scheduling depositions while appeals are pending. The judge stands by his decision to issue a stay in the event of an appeal in order to “prevent the state from having to go to trial without the benefit of materially helpful evidence.”

To complicate the case further, the defense claimed the state withheld the knowledge that their lead investigator Miramar Police detective Mark Moretti was previously accused of being willing to lie as he gathered evidence for the case. Because of this, lead prosecutor Kristine Bradley was ordered off the case on Oct. 12. Assistant State Attorney Alixandra Buckelew has replaced Bradley and hopes to bar from the retrial any juror with prior knowledge of Melly’s first trial.

Where Is He Now?

Just as Demons’ October retrial was about to start, court filings revealed that prosecutors charged Melly with seven new felonies related to making sure a key witness didn’t testify during his first trial. The new charges include tampering with a witness in a capital felony, directing the activities of a criminal gang, two counts of solicitation to commit tampering, conspiracy to commit tampering and two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

Prosecutors have accused Melly of being a gang member of the Bloods. He reportedly used phone calls made by other incarcerated individuals at Melly’s request and letters passed between them to get messages to Blood members outside of jail. Those members, according to prosecutors, successfully ensured that a key witness didn’t testify in last year’s initial trial.

Melly has pleaded not guilty to one count each of directing the activities of a criminal gang, criminal solicitation to commit murder and conspiracy to tamper with witness in a capital felony case.

Melly could face up to life in prison if he is convicted of witness tampering in a capital case.

As Melly awaits a new trial, his future in the music industry remains uncertain, though his music has certainly left a mark on the hip-hop landscape and serves as a cautionary tale about the complex interplay between artistry and the criminal justice system.