J. Cole, born Jermaine Lamarr Cole, also known through his alter ego KiLL Edward, is a rapper, producer and occasional professional basketball player. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, he grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States, which heavily influences his storytelling and imagery.
Emerging through acclaimed mixtapes, he signed to Roc Nation and released his debut album "Cole World: The Sideline Story" in 2011. He is primarily associated with hip hop, particularly introspective and socially conscious rap. Subsequent albums such as "Born Sinner", "2014 Forest Hills Drive", "4 Your Eyez Only", "KOD" and "The Off-Season" cemented his reputation for self-produced, concept-driven projects. Key singles include "Work Out", "Power Trip", "No Role Modelz", "Wet Dreamz" and "Middle Child". He founded the Dreamville label, nurturing a collective showcased on the compilation "Revenge of the Dreamers III".
Cole has received major industry recognition, including a Grammy Award for his contribution to "A Lot" with 21 Savage, alongside multiple honours from hip hop and mainstream award bodies. Beyond music, he briefly played professional basketball for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Canada’s CEBL, reflecting his long-standing passion for the sport.
