Cole World

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Lore & Background

Cole World: The Sideline Story arrived on September 27, 2011, as the culmination of years of mixtape grind. Cole had already built a fervent fanbase with The Come Up (2007), The Warm Up (2009), and Friday Night Lights (2010) — the latter two released through Jay-Z's Roc Nation, which Cole signed with in 2009. The album's lead single, "Work Out", was released on June 15, 2011, in honor of the second anniversary of The Warm Up. Produced by Cole himself, the song samples "The New Workout Plan" by Kanye West and interpolates "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul. It became a hit single, topping several music charts. Cole purposely avoided revealing the album's title early on for fear of inconsistency, only confirming that Jay-Z would appear as a featured guest. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making Cole the first artist to have his debut album top the chart since 2010. It was certified platinum by the RIAA.

In Their Own Story

In the months leading up to the album, Cole was a supporting act for Drake on the Light Dreams and Nightmares UK Tour from January 5 to 21, 2011. He released the song "Return of Simba" on May 22, the third in his "Simba" series following "Simba" and "Grown Simba". On June 15, he dropped "Work Out" — a track that would become his first major hit. The album itself was largely self-produced, with Cole handling the bulk of the production. He had been working toward this moment since his early days in Fayetteville, through college at St. John's University (where he graduated magna cum laude in 2007 with a 3.8 GPA), and through years of part-time jobs including working as an ad salesman, a bill collector, a file clerk, and a kangaroo mascot at a skate rink. The album's title reflects his long journey from the sidelines to center stage.

Reader's Guide

Cole World: The Sideline Story is the foundation of J. Cole's discography — a debut that captures the hunger and precision of an artist who spent years sharpening his craft on mixtapes. The album's lead single "Work Out" became a Billboard Hot 100-top 40 hit, while the album itself debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. Cole produced the majority of the tracks himself, layering soul samples with crisp drums. The project features guest appearances from Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, and Trey Songz, among others. Themes of ambition, faith, and complicated relationships run through the tracklist. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA and set the stage for Cole's subsequent albums, each of which would also peak atop the Billboard 200.

Did You Know?

• Cole produced the album's lead single 'Work Out' himself, sampling Kanye West's 'The New Workout Plan' and interpolating Paula Abdul's 'Straight Up'.
• Cole purposely avoided revealing the album's title early on for fear of inconsistency, only confirming that Jay-Z would be featured.
• The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making Cole the first artist to have his debut album top the chart since 2010.
• Cole released 'Work Out' on June 15, 2011, in honor of the second anniversary of his acclaimed mixtape The Warm Up.
• Before the album's release, Cole served as a supporting act for Drake on the Light Dreams and Nightmares UK Tour in early 2011.