J. Cole

J. Cole is a successful American rapper and producer. His albums frequently address social issues such as inequality, racism, drug addiction, and materialism. He also collaborates with famous collaborators like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Mac Miller. In the early stages of his career, he drew inspiration from artists like Eminem, Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., André 3000, and Jay-Z.

It was that same Jay-Z who spotted J. Cole's talent early on. Jermaine Lamarr Cole was born in Germany on January 28, 1985, but grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina. J. Cole was drawn to the hip-hop world early on and debuted in 2007 with the mixtape "The Come Up." His work caught the attention of Jay-Z, who signed him to his record label, Roc Nation.

J. Cole made an immediate impression with his first two albums, Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011) and Born Sinner (2013). Their commercial success didn't stop him from spreading his wings in later work, especially lyrically. With the albums Forest Hills Drive (2014), 4 Your Eyez Only (2016), KOD (2018), and The Off-Season (2021), he made a significant contribution to the development of American hip-hop. In late 2023, he scored a number 1 hit with First Person Shooter, a track he recorded with Canadian rapper Drake. His seventh album, provisionally titled The Fall Off, is about to be released.