Hailing from the harsh streets of what he calls “Fayette-nam” (Fayetteville, North Carolina), J. Cole—born Jermaine Lamarr Cole—garnered attention for his earnest lyricism. Pegged as a “conscious rapper,” Cole signed to JAY-Z’s Roc Nation in 2009, and his debut studio album Cole World: The Sideline Story dropped two years later. Subsequent releases displayed his narrative rhymes and confessional delivery while he let fans go behind the scenes with HBO documentaries that detailed the making of each LP. Beyond sharing his voice, Cole has turned his searchlight outwards to find similar messages with his Dreamville Records label.
The first single from Durk’s new album, Almost Healed, which is out May 26
New releases to look forward to in the coming months, from Rosalía, 100 gecs, Beach House, Earl Sweatshirt, Kaina, and others
New releases to look forward to in the coming months, from Rosalía, 100 gecs, Beach House, Earl Sweatshirt, Kaina, and others
New releases to look forward to in the coming months, from SZA, Drake, Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and others
New tapes from Wiz Khalifa, the J. Cole-like Stalley, and Oakland crew Green Ova.