J. Cole: From College Courts to Rap Throne
by Miranda Carr
Update:
- Who Is J. Cole?
- Career Through the Years
- Songs and Albums by J Cole
- 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014)
- “No Role Modelz”
- “Lights Please”
- “on the street”
- J Cole Current Tour
Thumbnail: J Cole 3 by HDShootsPhotos (CC BY 2.0)
Who Is J. Cole?
Jermaine Lamarr Cole, popularly known as J Cole, is an American hip-hop artist and record producer. He was born on January 28, 1985 (currently aged 39 years), at a United States Army base in Frankfurt, West Germany.
As a child, he had a poor upbringing after his African father divorced his German mother. While his mother struggled to make ends meet, they had to move to a city in North Carolina.
After his mother remarried and the family moved to a better home, their happiness was short-lived as the marriage ended, leaving them homeless just as Cole was about to go to college. Cole's stepfather was abusive, especially towards his older brother, leading to yet another divorce from his mother.
Following the breakup, Cole's passion for music began to unfold when he joined the Terry Sanford Orchestra as a soloist in Fayetteville. He also started rapping and producing music, initially named "Blaza," and later as a therapist.
Career Through the Years
During his teenage years, J. Cole worked part-time jobs, including a short stint at an ice hockey skate park where he had to dress as a cartoon kangaroo. After graduating from high school, he moved to New York and enrolled at St John's University, where he graduated with honors in communications in 2007.
While his passion for music production kept increasing, he had little support. Fortunately, his mother raised some funds to enhance his production skills. Soon enough, J. Cole began to display his talent after uploading some of the best songs to the internet.
It was about that same year that he released his first diss track, The Come Up, followed by The Warm Up two years later. These two songs quickly went viral in a few weeks, leading to a collaboration opportunity with the renowned American rapper of that time, Jay-Z. Three years later, J Cole got all the attention after creating tracks with famous artists, including Drake.
Today, the American hip-hop artist, songwriter, and producer is hitting it big in the music industry. He has an impressive net worth of over $60 million, among the highest-paid producers globally.
Standing at 6 feet 3 inches (190cm), J. Cole was an aspiring basketball player in his younger years. While he didn’t quite make the cut back then, he now partially owns one of most extensive basketball teams in the Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Hornets. He shares ownership alongside country music artist Eric Church following Michael Jordan's sale of his stake in the team. While achieving so much in such a short period, the rapper has kept his social life private.
Him and his wife - Melissa Heholt, are generally renowned for their privacy in the music industry. After being together for nine years, J. Cole shared that they have been blessed with two children.
Since his breakout in 2011, J. Cole has acquired the most significant feat in his music career. After earning hip-hop 16 nominations, the artists have won two Grammy awards.
Most recently, he started a tour along with one of the world's best hip-hop artists. If you are a big fan, then this is something you won't want to miss. For a start, check out this page on How To Get Cheap Concert Tickets Today.
Songs and Albums by J Cole
2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014)
Back in 2014, Cole dropped his biggest album so far. The album 2014 FOREST HILLS DRIVE album quickly climbed to the top spot on the Billboard 200, US Rap, and US R&B/Hip-Hop charts.
Like his 2013 album - BORN SINNER, 2014 Forest Hills Drive achieved platinum status, earning Cole his inaugural Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.
Meanwhile, Cole's intent on the album is clear - to share an accurate account of his upbringing. The album reflects his struggles while growing up in Frankfurt and his sacrifices before becoming famous.
“No Role Modelz”
This is his standout track from his most significant album - 2014 FOREST HILLS DRIVE. Moreover, the song reflects his experiences and challenges while growing up. A few weeks after its release, the song quickly went viral, becoming the longest-charting song on Spotify.
Meanwhile, the majority of the song is about his relationships with women. He recounts his time with various women and how they left him frustrated. In the long run, the music performed amazingly well after earning certified platinum status.
“Lights Please”
Everyone knows J Cole has a thing for producing chart-topping hits, and Lights Please is just one good example. It entails the story of a guy who falls in love with a dumb girl and tries to educate her. Even though it seems more like a love song, the 2011 track was eventually nominated for the Grammy Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards.
“on the street”
Being a big fan of J. Cole, BTS star J-Hope released this empowering song together with his very own idol in 2023. The work of the two Js was awarded with nominations for Best Music (Spring) category at the Fact Music Awards, as well as Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance and Song of the Year at the 2023 MAMA Awards.
J Cole Current Tour
Drake and J. Cole have embarked on their biggest world tour this year. It is a joint tour titled It’s All A Blur Tour - Big As The What? set to commence in 2024.
After launching on January 18 in Denver, Colorado, the tour will hit various cities, including Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Nashville, and Columbus, before concluding in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 27. The lineup is filled with amazing artists, with rescheduled dates from Drake’s previous It’s All A Blur Tour featuring his collaborator 21 Savage.
This tour marks Drake’s return to the stage following the release of his latest album, For All The Dogs, featuring the hit collaboration "First Person Shooter" with J. Cole.
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