Jermaine Cole

J. Cole, born Jermaine Lamarr Cole, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his introspective and conscious lyrics, Cole has risen to prominence as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of his generation. He initially gained recognition for his mixtapes before signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation label in 2009. Since then, he has released multiple platinum-selling albums and garnered numerous awards.

Early Life

Jermaine Lamarr Cole was born on January 28, 1985, at a U.S. Army base in Frankfurt, West Germany. He was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Cole developed a passion for music at a young age, learning to play the piano and later focusing on rapping.

Career

J. Cole began his career releasing mixtapes, including The Come Up and The Warm Up, which garnered significant online attention. In 2009, he signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation, releasing his debut studio album Cole World: The Sideline Story in 2011. He followed up with critically acclaimed albums such as Born Sinner (2013), 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014), 4 Your Eyez Only (2016), KOD (2018), and The Off-Season (2021). Cole is also the founder of the record label Dreamville Records.

Personal Life

J. Cole is married to Melissa Heholt, and they have children together. He is known for maintaining a relatively private personal life despite his fame.

Awards

J. Cole has won numerous awards throughout his career, including a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song ("a lot" with 21 Savage). He has also received several BET Hip Hop Awards and Billboard Music Awards.