Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born January 28, 1985) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Cole is regarded as one of the most influential rappers of his generation. Born on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape, The Come Up, in early 2007. Intent on further pursuing a musical career, he went on to release two additional mixtapes, The Warm Up (2009) and Friday Night Lights (2010) both to critical acclaim, after signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint in 2009.
Cole released his debut studio album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, in 2011. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. His next album, Born Sinner (2013), also topped the Billboard 200. Moving into more conscious themes, 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014) topped the Billboard 200 and earned Cole a Best Rap Album nomination at the 2015 Grammy Awards. His jazz influenced fourth album, 4 Your Eyez Only (2016), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Cole's fifth album, KOD (2018), became his fifth number-one album on the Billboard 200 and featured a then-record six simultaneous top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, tying The Beatles. His sixth studio album, The Off-Season, was released on May 14, 2021.
Self-taught on piano, Cole also acts as a producer alongside his rap career, producing singles for artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Janet Jackson, as well as handling the majority of the production in his own projects. He has also developed other ventures, including Dreamville Records, as well as a non-profit organization called the Dreamville Foundation. Dreamville's compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers III (2019) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards. In January 2015, Cole decided to house single mothers rent-free at his childhood home in Fayetteville, North Carolina.Cole has won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song, a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Album, three Soul Train Music Awards, and 8 BET Hip Hop Awards. All five of his albums have been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), as well as Revenge of the Dreamers III.
May 20, 2022
J. Cole will play professional basketball for a second straight year as a member of the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
May 13, 2022
J. Cole showed up to a die-hard fan’s college graduation after promising to attend her high school graduation years earlier.
May 12, 2022
J. Cole showed love for one of his biggest fans by attending her college graduation, after previously attending her high school graduation.
May 12, 2022
Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole are the “Big 3” rappers of their class. Here’s how they stacked up against each other in every year since 2010.
May 12, 2022
The Grammy-winning rapper attended the fan's college graduation on Wednesday, about seven years after he fulfilled his promise to attend her HS graduation.
April 25, 2022
After training Drake, J. Cole and more, renowned basketball trainer Chris Brickley is looking to try his hands at being an executive producer.
April 15, 2022
Nearly a year after his solo offering "The Jackie," Bas returns with his new four-track EP '[Bump] Pick Me Up,' featuring Ari Lennox, Gunna, and more.
April 14, 2022
J. Cole is on another hot streak when it comes to featured verses. From "London" to Johnny P’s Caddy," we ranked all of his 2022 rap verses.
April 12, 2022
"It was my favourite song and I only heard it one time" J. Cole said The post Bia and J. Cole share video for new UK drill inspired track ‘London’ appeared first on NME.
April 8, 2022
The new single’s visual is a lavish London excursion for Bia and Cole
April 8, 2022
"I definitely got in my London accent bag and people actually tell me it’s really good," Bia tells Rolling Stone
April 8, 2022
BIA has released her music video for "London" featuring J. Cole, which was appropriately shot in the capital of England. Cole teased it as "one of them ones."
April 5, 2022
The 2022 edition of J. Cole and Dreamville’s festival had a familial feel to it that’s rare at major music events. And it showed just how far the label has come
April 5, 2022
DJ Drama helms the release, with assists from Earthgang, 2 Chainz, A$AP Ferg and others.
April 4, 2022
Amid his four losses at the 2022 Grammy Awards, J. Cole took a moment to thank 21 Savage for helping him win his one trophy from the institution, for "A Lot."
April 4, 2022
After beating out albums by Kanye West, Nas, and J. Cole, Tyler took to IG Live to thank those who stood in his corner during the creation of 'CMIYGL.'
April 4, 2022
Keem and Lamar prevail over Cardi B, J. Cole, Drake, and Megan Thee Stallion
April 3, 2022
He takes home the award ahead of J. Cole, Kanye West, and Tyler, the Creator
April 3, 2022
The Watch the Throne duo takes the gong ahead of DMX, Saweetie, Baby Keem, and J. Cole
April 3, 2022
The Donda single “Hurricane” beat out tracks by J. Cole, Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, and Tyler, the Creator
April 3, 2022
The 2022 Grammy Awards features 86 categories and nominations for Kanye West, J. Cole, Tyler, the Creator, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Doja Cat, and many more.
April 2, 2022
J. Cole and Dreamville's annual music festival is back, and this year they're offering fans a livestream to catch the two-day weekend event.
April 1, 2022
Hours after J. Cole and Dreamville returned with their Gangsta Grillz mixtape, Royce Da 5'9" took to Twitter to give the North Carolina rapper his flowers.
March 31, 2022
J. Cole's Dreamville teamed up with DJ Drama to unveil D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape.
March 31, 2022
J. Cole and Dreamville join forces with DJ Drama to receive their own 'Gangsta Grillz' mixtape called 'D-Day' leading up to their second annual Dreamville Fest.
March 31, 2022
D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape is out March 31
March 30, 2022
J. Cole's stylist and Director of Design for Dreamville Raeana Anaïs talked to us about working with Cole, designing Dreamville premium apparel, and more.
March 22, 2022
Other top-tier artists hitting the stage in Grant Park include Doja Cat, Machine Gun Kelly, J. Cole, Kygo and Jane's Addiction.
March 22, 2022
Four-day Chicago fest will also feature J. Cole, Green Day, Lil Baby, and more
March 22, 2022
Jazmine Sullivan, Charli XCX, Lil Baby, Caroline Polachek, Denzel Curry, and others will also perform at Chicago’s Grant Park from July 28-31