J Cole

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Lore & Background

J. Cole's career began with the release of his debut mixtape *The Come Up* in early 2007. He signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2009, releasing *The Warm Up* (2009) and *Friday Night Lights* (2010). His debut album *Cole World: The Sideline Story* (2011) and follow-up *Born Sinner* (2013) both peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and spawned top-40 singles like "Work Out," "Power Trip" (featuring Miguel), and "Crooked Smile" (featuring TLC). His later albums—*2014 Forest Hills Drive* (2014), *4 Your Eyez Only* (2016), and *KOD* (2018)—explored more conscious themes. *KOD* set a record with six simultaneous top-20 Hot 100 hits, the first album to do so since the Beatles in 1964. His sixth album *The Off-Season* (2021) featured "My Life" (with 21 Savage and Morray), which peaked at number two. His seventh album *The Fall-Off* is scheduled for 2026 and marketed as his final album. Guest appearances on "All My Life" by Lil Durk (2023) and "First Person Shooter" by Drake peaked at numbers two and one, respectively.

In Their Own Story

In early 2007, J. Cole released his debut mixtape *The Come Up*, which initially gained him attention as a rapper. He attended college in New York City to further his musical career, and in 2009 he signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation. The label released his next two mixtapes: *The Warm Up* (2009) and *Friday Night Lights* (2010), both earning him wider recognition. His debut album *Cole World: The Sideline Story* (2011) peaked atop the US Billboard 200, followed by *Born Sinner* (2013), which also reached number one. Both albums were met with critical acclaim and produced the Hot 100 top-40 singles "Work Out," "Power Trip" (featuring Miguel), and "Crooked Smile" (featuring TLC). His subsequent albums—*2014 Forest Hills Drive* (2014), *4 Your Eyez Only* (2016), and *KOD* (2018)—explored more conscious and introspective subject matter. *KOD* featured a then-record six simultaneous top-20 hits on the Hot 100, the first album to do so since the Beatles in 1964. His sixth album *The Off-Season* (2021) and seventh album *The Fall-Off* (2026, marketed as his final album) both had several top-40 entries upon release. "My Life" (with 21 Savage and Morray) peaked at number two on the Hot 100. His guest appearances on "All My Life" by Lil Durk (2023) and "First Person Shooter" by Drake peaked at numbers two and one, respectively.

Reader's Guide

J. Cole is a rapper and record producer who largely handles production for his own projects. He is self-taught on piano and has produced for artists including Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson, Young Thug, Wale, and Mac Miller. He founded Dreamville Records, which includes a media company and non-profit. The label has signed JID, Ari Lennox, Bas, and EarthGang, and released four compilation albums; *Revenge of the Dreamers III* (2019) debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. In January 2015, Cole began housing single mothers rent-free at his childhood home in Fayetteville. He has won two Grammy Awards from seventeen nominations, a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Album, three Soul Train Music Awards, and eight BET Hip Hop Awards. Each of his albums—including *Revenge of the Dreamers III*—has received platinum certification by the RIAA. He is a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

Did You Know?

• Cole graduated high school with a 4.2 GPA and later graduated magna cum laude from St. John's University with a 3.8 GPA.
• He worked as a kangaroo mascot at a skate rink before his music career took off.
• His album *KOD* (2018) set a record with six simultaneous top-20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, the first album to do so since the Beatles in 1964.
• In January 2015, Cole began housing single mothers rent-free at his childhood home in Fayetteville.
• He is a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

Early Life and Education

Jermaine Lamarr Cole was born on January 28, 1985, at an American military base in Frankfurt, West Germany. His father, James Cole, is an African American Army veteran; his mother, Kay, is a white American who worked as a postal worker. His father abandoned the family during his youth. At eight months old, Cole moved with his mother and older brother Zach to Fayetteville, North Carolina. He grew up in a multi-ethnic environment and commented, 'I can identify with white people, because I know my mother, her side of the family, who I love. But at the end of the day, [I've] never felt white. I identify more with what I look like, because that's how I got treated [but] not necessarily in a negative way.' He played first-chair violin for the Terry Sanford Orchestra until 2003. He began rapping at age twelve and saw it as an ideal profession in 2000 when his mother bought him an ASR-X musical sampler. He graduated high school with a 4.2 GPA and moved to New York City on a scholarship to St. John's University. He initially majored in computer science but switched to communications. He was president of Haraya, a pan-African student coalition, and graduated magna cum laude in 2007 with a 3.8 GPA. He officially received his degree in 2015 after paying a library book fine. He worked part-time jobs including an ad salesman, bill collector, file clerk, and a kangaroo mascot at a skate rink. His mother struggled with addiction after his stepfather left.

Rise to Stardom

Cole initially gained attention as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape *The Come Up* in early 2007. He attended college in New York City with the intent of furthering his musical career and signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2009. The label released his next two mixtapes: *The Warm Up* (2009) and *Friday Night Lights* (2010), both earning him wider recognition. He appeared on Jay-Z's album *The Blueprint 3* (2009) on the track 'A Star Is Born.' In early 2010, he was chosen as one of Beyond Race magazine's '50 Great Breakthrough Artists' and featured in XXL Magazine's 2010 Top Ten Freshmen. He released the single 'Who Dat' on April 30, 2010. On November 12, 2010, he released *Friday Night Lights*, which included features from Drake, Wale, and Omen. His debut album *Cole World: The Sideline Story* was released in 2011, peaking atop the US Billboard 200. The album's lead single 'Work Out' became a hit, topping several music charts.

Artistic Evolution and Chart Dominance

Each of Cole's studio albums has peaked atop the US Billboard 200, beginning with *Cole World: The Sideline Story* (2011) and *Born Sinner* (2013). Both spawned the Hot 100 top-40 singles 'Work Out,' 'Power Trip' (featuring Miguel), and 'Crooked Smile' (featuring TLC). His subsequent albums—*2014 Forest Hills Drive* (2014), *4 Your Eyez Only* (2016), and *KOD* (2018)—explored more conscious and introspective subject matter. *KOD* featured a then-record six simultaneous top-20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, the first album to do so since the Beatles in 1964. His sixth album *The Off-Season* (2021) and seventh album *The Fall-Off* (2026, marketed as his final album) both had several top-40 entries upon release. 'My Life' (with 21 Savage and Morray) peaked at number two on the Hot 100. His guest appearances on 'All My Life' by Lil Durk (2023) and 'First Person Shooter' by Drake peaked at numbers two and one, respectively.

Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy

Cole is self-taught on piano and acts as a producer alongside his recording career, largely handling production for his own projects. He has production credits for Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson, Young Thug, Wale, and Mac Miller. His side ventures include Dreamville Records, a media company, and a non-profit. The label has signed JID, Ari Lennox, Bas, and EarthGang, and released four compilation albums. Their third compilation, *Revenge of the Dreamers III* (2019), debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. In January 2015, Cole began housing single mothers rent-free at his childhood home in Fayetteville. He has won two Grammy Awards from seventeen nominations, a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Album, three Soul Train Music Awards, and eight BET Hip Hop Awards. Each of his albums—including *Revenge of the Dreamers III*—has received platinum certification by the RIAA. He is a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

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