J.Cole

Jermaine Lamar Cole (born January 28, 1985),better known by his stage name J.Cole,is a German-born American hip hop recording artist and record producer from Fayetteville,North Carolina.In 2009,he became the first artist to sign to Jay-Z's Roc Nation label.His long-awaited debut album titled "Cole World: The Sideline Story" was released on September 27,2011.The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200,Top R&B Albums and Top Rap Albums chart,selling more than 217,000 in the first week sales.He recived a nomination for Best New Artist at the 54th Grammy Awards.

Biography

Cole was born in Frankfurt,Germany, on January 28,1985.His father is African American and served in the United States Army,whil his mother is whit.At the age of 8 months old,Cole relocated to Fayetteville,North Carolina,when he was raised by his mother,aunt and cousin.His father left the family when he was still a boy.

Cole grew up in multi-ethnic environment.His childhood revolved around a love for both basketball and rap music.He attended Terry Sanford High School and decided to study guitar under the well-known artist Mark Ebert.Cole eventually graduated from high school in 2003.He concluded that he had a better chance of getting a record deal in New York City,so he chose to attend St. John's University on an academis scholarship.There'he majored in communication and minored in bussines,graduating magna cum laude.

On his mixed race background,Cole indicated in an October 2011 issue of the hip hop magazine XXL that:

" I can identify with White people, because I know my mother, her side of the family, who I love. I've had White friends. I know people from high school that I might not have hung out with outside of high school, but I think I got to know them pretty well, so I know they sense of humor. But at the end of the day, I never felt White. I don't know what that feels like. I can identify. But never have I felt like I'm one of them. Not that I wanted to, or tried to, but it just was what it was. I identify more with what I look like, because that's how I got treated. Not necessarily in a negative way. But when you get pulled over by the police, I can't pull out my half-White card. Or if I just meet you on the street, you're not gonna be like, This guy seems half-White."

Discography

Albums

• "Cole World: The Sideline Story"

Mixtapes

• "The Come Up"
• "The Warm Up"
• "Friday Night Lights"

Singles

• "Who Dat"
• "Work Out"
• "Cant Get Enough" (featuring Trey Songz)
• "Nobody's Perfect" (featuring Missy Elliott)
• "Miss America"

Songs with Rita Ora

• Love and War