J. Cole is a famous U.S. MC and producer. He achieved worldwide fame over the course of the past years. His lyrics, style, and music caught the attention of the infamous Jay-Z who signed J. Cole in 2009. He’s a well-known producer – producing for huge names in the industry including Janet Jackson and Kendrick Lamar. Cole is known for his charity work as well.
Early Life
Cole was born Jermaine Lamar Cole on January 28, 1985, at a U.S. Army base in Frankfurt, Germany. His father was an African-American soldier working at the base. He left his mother when Cole was only a baby. His mother, a white German postal worker, took him and his older brother and moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Cole’s mom remarried but his stepfather became abusive. Soon after, Cole’s mother left his stepfather and the family lost their house. At this point in time, Cole was at college. After the second marriage ended, Cole’s mother soon became addicted to crack.
Career
Cole became interested in music right there in Fayetteville. He joined the Terry Sanford Orchestra and started playing the violin, but rap was always his true passion. Cole practiced rapping and even produced some beats at a very young age.
Cole left North Carolina for New York where he attended and graduated with a degree in Communication at St John’s University in 2007. The same year, Cole released his debut mixtape The Come Up. He caught the attention of the fans and, most importantly, Jay-Z in 2009 when he released his second mixtape The Warm Up.
He got signed by Jay-Z and released the album Born Sinner in 2013. His next album 2014 Forest Hills Drive debut as number 1 on Billboard the 200 chart.
In the News
Over the years, Cole managed to maintain a consistent image throughout the media. He’s achieved milestones throughout his career and has even performed for President Obama at the White House in the spring of 2016. Cole also made headlines after purchasing his childhood home with the plan to turn it into a rent-free home for single mothers.
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