J. Cole facts for kids

Quick facts for kids J. Cole
Cole performing in 2023
Born	Jermaine Lamarr Cole (1985-01-28) January 28, 1985 (age 40) Frankfurt, West Germany
Nationality	American
Other names	Therapist Hollywood Cole Kill Edward
Alma mater	St. John's University (BA)
Occupation	Rapper singer songwriter record producer basketball player
Years active	2007–present
Organization	Dreamville Ventures
Works	Discography filmography production
Spouse(s)	Melissa Heholt ​ (m. 2015)​
Children	2
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Southern hip hop
Labels	Dreamville Roc Nation Interscope Columbia ByStorm
Jermaine Cole Personal information Nationality American High school Terry Sanford (Fayetteville, North Carolina) Listed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Listed weight 185 lb (84 kg) Career information Pro career 2021–2022 Career history 2021 Patriots BBC 2022 Scarborough Shooting Stars
Signature

Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born January 28, 1985), known as J. Cole, is a famous American rapper and music producer. He was born in Germany on a military base and grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina. J. Cole first became known for his music after releasing his first mixtape, The Come Up, in 2007.

He signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2009. He then released two more mixtapes, The Warm Up (2009) and Friday Night Lights (2010). These mixtapes were very popular and helped him gain many fans.

All of J. Cole's studio albums have reached the top of the US Billboard 200 chart. His first album, Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011), and his next, Born Sinner (2013), were both highly praised. These albums included hit songs like "Work Out" and "Power Trip".

Later, Cole changed his music style to focus on important topics like nostalgia, racial inequality, and materialism. His albums 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014), 4 Your Eyez Only (2016), and KOD (2018) explored these themes. 4 Your Eyez Only was very successful, selling about 500,000 copies in its first week. His album KOD set a record with six songs in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. His sixth album, The Off-Season (2021), also did very well. In 2023, his song "First Person Shooter" with Drake became his first song to reach number one on the chart.

J. Cole taught himself to play the piano and produces most of his own music. He has also produced songs for other artists like Kendrick Lamar and Janet Jackson. Besides music, he runs his own record label, Dreamville Records, a media company, and a non-profit organization. His label has signed artists like JID and Ari Lennox. Their album Revenge of the Dreamers III (2019) also topped the Billboard 200. In 2015, Cole started letting single mothers live rent-free in his childhood home.

Cole has won two Grammy Awards and many other music awards. All of his albums, including Revenge of the Dreamers III, have been certified platinum, meaning they sold over a million copies.

Early Life and Education

Jermaine Lamarr Cole was born on January 28, 1985, in Frankfurt, West Germany, on an American military base. His father was an African American soldier, and his mother, Kay, was a European American postal worker. Cole's father left the family when Jermaine was young.

When he was eight months old, his mother moved him and his older brother Zach to Fayetteville, North Carolina. Cole grew up in a diverse neighborhood. He said he could understand white people because of his mother's family, but he always felt more connected to his Black heritage because of how he was treated. As a child, Cole loved basketball and music. He played the violin in the Terry Sanford High School orchestra until 2003.

Cole started rapping when he was twelve. In 2000, his mother bought him a music sampler, which made him see music as a possible career. He focused on improving his production skills and started producing music under the name Therapist. He also worked with a local group called Bomm Sheltuh.

After high school, Cole moved to New York City to pursue music. He received a scholarship to St. John's University. He first studied computer science but later switched to communication and business. He graduated with honors in 2007. He officially received his degree in 2015 during a concert, after paying a late fee for a library book. Before becoming famous, Cole worked various part-time jobs, including selling ads and being a kangaroo mascot.

J. Cole's Musical Journey

Early Music and First Steps

Logo used by J. Cole earlier in his career.

J. Cole was inspired by rappers like Canibus, Nas, Tupac, and Eminem. He and his cousin practiced rhyming and storytelling in their lyrics. By age 14, Cole had many song ideas but couldn't make beats beyond using samples. His mother bought him a drum machine, which helped him learn more about production. He started posting songs online as "Blaza" and then "Therapist."

Cole created a CD of his own music and tried to play it for Jay-Z at a recording studio. He waited for hours but was turned away. Cole later used these songs for his first mixtape, The Come Up.

Mixtapes and Signing with Roc Nation

Cole was the first artist signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2009.

J. Cole released his second mixtape, The Warm Up, in June 2009. It received great reviews. He also appeared on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint 3 and on songs by other artists like Wale.

In 2010, XXL Magazine named him one of the "Top Ten Freshmen," highlighting new rappers. Cole went on a college tour and released his single "Who Dat" in April 2010. He also appeared on Miguel's debut single "All I Want Is You."

Cole performing at South by Southwest in 2010

In August 2010, Cole won the UMA Male Artist of the Year award. In November 2010, he released his third mixtape, Friday Night Lights. This mixtape featured artists like Drake and had most of its production done by Cole himself.

Cole World: The Sideline Story

Cole performing in Toronto during Cole World... World Tour in 2011

Cole opened for Drake on a UK tour in early 2011. He also produced "HiiiPoWeR" for Kendrick Lamar's album Section.80. In May 2011, Cole released "Return of Simba," part of a series of songs. He then released "Work Out" in June 2011, which became a big hit.

His debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, was released on September 27, 2011. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 218,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified gold by the end of 2011. In February 2012, the song "Nobody's Perfect" featuring Missy Elliott was released as the album's final single.

Born Sinner and Truly Yours

Cole was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2012 Grammy Awards. He also played in the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game. In March 2012, Cole returned to his hometown of Fayetteville and launched "Dreamville Weekend" to inspire young people.

In May 2012, Cole announced he was working on a joint album with Kendrick Lamar. In October, he shared that his second album was finished.

Cole performing during the What Dreams May Come Tour

On November 5, Cole revealed his second album's title, Born Sinner. He released a promotional single, "Miss America," hoping it would bring a different, more thoughtful direction to music.

Born Sinner was originally set for a January 2013 release but was delayed. In February 2013, Cole released an EP called Truly Yours with five songs that wouldn't be on the album. The first single from Born Sinner, "Power Trip" featuring Miguel, was released on February 14, 2013.

Cole moved the release date of Born Sinner to compete with Kanye West's album Yeezus. Born Sinner sold 297,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number two. He released more singles like "Crooked Smile" featuring TLC.

2014 Forest Hills Drive

Cole performing at Governor's Ball 2014, in New York City

In August 2014, Cole released "Be Free" in response to events in Ferguson, Missouri. He visited the city to meet with protesters.

On November 16, Cole announced his third album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, would be released on December 9. The album's title came from the address of his childhood home. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 353,000 copies in its first week.

Cole announced the "Forest Hills Drive Tour" in February 2015. A live album, Forest Hills Drive: Live, was recorded during the Fayetteville shows and released on his 31st birthday. By March 2015, 2014 Forest Hills Drive was certified platinum. It won Top Rap Album at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards.

In December 2015, Cole announced a documentary series called J. Cole: Road to Homecoming, leading up to his HBO special Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming. The concert film aired in January 2016, showing his final Forest Hills Drive Tour show.

4 Your Eyez Only

Cole performing in Toronto during 4 Your Eyez Only Tour in 2017

In July 2016, Cole was featured on DJ Khaled's album Major Key. On December 1, 2016, the artwork and tracklist for Cole's fourth album, 4 Your Eyez Only, were revealed. It was released on December 9, 2016.

On December 2, Cole released a 40-minute documentary called Eyez on Tidal. It showed him working on the album and included music videos for "Everybody Dies" and "False Prophets," though these songs were not on the album.

4 Your Eyez Only debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming Cole's fourth number one album. All 10 songs from the album entered the top 40 of the Hot 100. The album was certified platinum in April 2017. Cole announced the 4 Your Eyez Only World Tour in February 2017. An HBO documentary, J. Cole: 4 Your Eyez Only, aired in April 2017.

KOD

Cole performing in 2017

On April 16, 2018, J. Cole announced a surprise event in New York City, which turned out to be a listening session for his new album, KOD. The album was released on April 20, 2018. The album's cover art was created by artist Sixmau.

On its release day, KOD broke streaming records on Apple Music and Spotify. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making it Cole's fifth number one album. J. Cole also became the first artist to have three songs debut in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. The album was certified platinum in the United States.

Cole announced the KOD Tour in May 2018. He also performed songs from KOD at the 2018 BET Awards. In August 2018, Cole released a single called "Album of the Year (Freestyle)" and announced a new project, The Off Season, which he planned to release before his next studio album, The Fall Off.

Revenge of the Dreamers III

In January 2019, Cole announced Dreamville's compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers III. Recording sessions took place in Atlanta with many artists and producers. On January 23, 2019, Cole released his single "Middle Child," which quickly reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Cole performed at the 2019 NBA All-Star Game halftime show in February 2019. He also featured on Young Thug's single "The London."

In June and July 2019, several singles from Revenge of the Dreamers III were released, including "Down Bad" and "Costa Rica." A film documenting the album's recording sessions was also released.

Revenge of the Dreamers III debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming Cole's sixth number-one album. It was certified platinum. The album was nominated for Best Rap Album, and Cole won his first Grammy Award for his collaboration with 21 Savage on "A Lot."

The Off-Season and Future Plans

On June 16, 2020, J. Cole released "Snow on tha Bluff," a song about social issues. In July 2020, he released a promotional EP called Lewis Street with two new songs, "The Climb Back" and "Lion King on Ice."

In December 2020, Cole hinted at his future projects, including The Off-Season and It's a Boy, which would come before The Fall Off. On May 4, 2021, he announced the release date and artwork for The Off-Season, his sixth studio album. The album's lead single, "Interlude," was released on May 7.

The Off-Season was released on May 14, 2021. It received positive reviews and topped the US Billboard 200, becoming his sixth consecutive number-one album. Four songs from the album debuted in the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100.

In September 2021, J. Cole released a freestyle called "Heaven's EP." In October 2023, he was featured on Drake's song "First Person Shooter," which became his first song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In April 2024, J. Cole released Might Delete Later.

Basketball Career

Cole played basketball at Terry Sanford High School in North Carolina. He tried out for the team at St. John's University and was one of the top players called back during his second year. In 2012, Cole played in the NBA All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game. He told Sports Illustrated that sports and rap are similar because they are both very competitive.

In July 2020, Cole wrote an article for The Players' Tribune about his dream of playing professional basketball. He also released his first signature shoe with Puma called the PUMA RS-Dreamer. In August 2020, it was reported that Cole was training to try out for the NBA.

In September 2022, J. Cole was featured on the cover of NBA 2K23 for the Dreamer Edition. He was also included as a character in the game's "MyCareer" mode.

Playing Professionally

Patriots Basketball Club (2021)

On May 10, 2021, Cole signed a contract with the Rwanda-based Patriots Basketball Club in the Basketball Africa League. He also appeared on the cover of SLAM magazine. Cole played his first professional game on May 16, scoring three points, three rebounds, and two assists in 17 minutes. He played three games with the team before leaving.

Scarborough Shooting Stars (2022)

On May 19, 2022, Cole signed with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. In June 2022, it was announced that Cole would take a break from the team to focus on his concert tour. In 4 games with the Shooting Stars, Cole averaged 2.4 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists.

Career Statistics

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Artistic Influences

J. Cole has said that many hip-hop artists influenced his rapping style. These include Tupac, Jay-Z, Eminem, Nas, and André 3000. He mentioned that Jay-Z was a mentor even before he signed with him. Cole learned a lot from Jay-Z's experience.

He also said that Tupac was his favorite rapper before he even started rapping. Cole felt a strong connection to Tupac's music, even as a young child. After his mixtape Friday Night Lights was released, people compared him to Nas. Cole even wrote a song called "Let Nas Down" after Nas made comments about his song "Work Out." Nas later responded with his own song, "Made Nas Proud."

In 2014, Cole listed Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, and Jay-Z as his top four favorite rappers of all time.

Business Ventures

Dreamville Records

J. Cole started his own record label, Dreamville Records, in early 2007 with Ibrahim Hamad. Cole wanted a way to release his own music, and Hamad wanted to start a label, so they teamed up. The label works with Interscope Records.

The logo of Cole's Dreamville Records imprint

Cole, Omen, and Bas were the first artists signed to the label. Dreamville Records now includes artists like Cozz, Lute, Ari Lennox, JID, and EarthGang. Many of their albums have been certified platinum.

The Dreamville Foundation

In October 2011, Cole started The Dreamville Foundation, a non-profit organization. Its goal is to help young people in his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Foundation gives school supplies to children and runs a book club for young men. It also sponsors an annual "Dreamville Weekend" with community events.

In 2014, Cole bought his childhood home in Fayetteville through the Dreamville Foundation. His plan is to turn the house into a place where single mothers and their children can live for free.

Tidal

In March 2015, Jay-Z's company bought the music streaming service Tidal. J. Cole is a small owner of the service, along with 15 other artists like Kanye West, Usher, and Beyoncé.

Dreamville Festival

On April 27, 2018, J. Cole announced the Dreamville Festival. This festival celebrates local music, culture, food, and art, featuring both new and famous artists. The first festival was postponed due to a hurricane but was rescheduled for April 6, 2019, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The lineup included all of Dreamville's artists and others like SZA and 21 Savage. The festival plans to donate money to local parks and the Dreamville Foundation.

Fashion

In February 2020, J. Cole announced a partnership with Puma for footwear and clothing. Cole helps with product design, marketing, and cultural advice for the brand. Puma and Cole released a short film for the "Sky Dreamer" shoes, which debuted during the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.

On July 31, 2020, PUMA and J. Cole released their first collaboration shoe, the PUMA RS-Dreamer. Cole said he wanted to create basketball shoes that were both high-performing and stylish enough for everyday wear.

Personal Life

In a January 2016 interview, J. Cole shared that he was married to Melissa Heholt. They met while studying at St. John’s University. Melissa is the Executive Director of the Dreamville Foundation. In 2018, Cole mentioned that he and his wife had a son. In July 2020, he revealed that they have two children.

Discography

Studio albums

Concert Tours

Headlining

• Cole World... World Tour (2011)
• What Dreams May Come Tour (2013–14)
• Dollar & A Dream Tour (2013)
• Dollar & A Dream Tour 2014: The Warm Up (2014)
• Forest Hills Drive Tour (2015)
• Dollar & A Dream Tour III: Friday Night Lights (2015)
• 4 Your Eyez Only World Tour (2017)
• KOD Tour (2018)

Co-headlining

• The Campus Consciousness Tour (with Big K.R.I.T.) (2012)
• Revenge of the Dreamers NYC Crawl (with Dreamville) (2015)
• The Off-Season Tour (with 21 Savage) (2021)
• It's All A Blur Tour - Big As the What? (with Drake) (2024)

Supporting act

• Jay-Z Fall Tour (Jay Z) (2009)
• Attention Deficit Tour (Wale) (2009)
• Loud Tour (Rihanna) (2011)
• Club Paradise Tour (Drake) (2012)
• Rapture Tour (Eminem) (2014)

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  J. Cole's signature

See also

In Spanish: J. Cole para niños