He deserves his own thread.

I got introduced to him when his mixtape "The Warm Up" dropped and have been steadily downloading and listening to everything he has put out since.

For those of you not familiar with the NC product, he grew up in Fayettville then attended St. John's where he could get closer to the NY rap scene. Shortly after graduation Jay-Z signed him to this new label, Roc Nation, and it has been a steady climb since.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Cole

You can stream an unofficial track mix a DJ put together called "The Blow Up" here:

http://beta.hiphopdx.com/index/mixtape/id.1191/title.j-cole-the-blow-up

Also, he has produced a couple of videos for "Simba" and "Who Dat"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6PyB9Feu_k

http://vimeo.com/12449882

Enjoy.

7/29/2010 9:49:29 AM

Caused quite a stir in Fayetteville with his video featuring the band and cheerleaders from EE Smith and Fayetteville State.... old folks were not pleased

my parents were even asking me about him

I think he sucks but I'm not much of a rap fan anyways

7/29/2010 9:59:46 AM

i thought this was about

7/29/2010 10:21:45 AM

^beat me to it

7/29/2010 10:24:42 AM

7/29/2010 10:34:51 AM

i went to high school with him along with a few others on here. terry sanford ftw!

[Edited on July 29, 2010 at 10:38 AM. Reason : ]

7/29/2010 10:36:52 AM

I too, was expecting Joe Cole.

7/29/2010 10:52:43 AM

good call on the thread. "I Got it" and "Premeditated Murder" are on steady rotation.

7/29/2010 11:00:30 AM

When I went home to see my parents over 4th of July, there were something like 5-6 "Who Dat" references in the Fayetteville Observer one day. Quite a stir indeed.

7/29/2010 11:47:07 AM

All the cool niggas from high schools that still ain't doing shit
Remember when you used to fuck niggas up til' they blue and shit
Now ya ass broke as a joke and them niggas doing it
Funny how the tables turn in life nigga you ruined it

The flow cold as a shoulder of gold diggin hoes when a broke nigga approaches

Keep grinding boy, your life could change in one year
And even when it's dark out, the sun is shining somewhere

it seems on the outside you thinkin you the shit, but its the soul thats inside that you aint even know exists.
now, you so out of touch that the world mistreats you
rich niggas fuck you, and broke niggas beat you
hoping this will reach you so you'll understand that your value ain't determined by another man

When she talk she so closed minded, all she wanna do is shop she so clothes minded, wanna cop the latest before dem other hoes find it, material girl somehow l i don't mind it

This Is Andre Mixed With Kanye
Mixed with Jigga and Nas,
couldn't name a bug with a buzz bigger than mine

damn near homeless the way I be pickin' up dimes

Cloud told me 'Ain't you Roc? Well where the fuck yo chain at?' Guess it's somethin' like your girl nigga, it ain't came yet

Is That Ya Girl? Well I Just G'd Her No A-Rod

Nobody taught us how to cook, still niggas'll grill, no foreman
try not to call them ladies 'B's' but them ho's swarmin'
Now, honey, hey is it destiny or is it money, you're feelin?
Heard rumors of a deal and now you're thinking 'a million'
Pardon my paranoid mind, but.. I'm staring in the mirror,
living in fear that things will never be the same
No one left for me to blame but myself, 'cus I asked for this,
headed for fame but in my brain, hey, can I last in this?
In five years, I'll probably laugh at this,
try not to let it wear me out, like a bad bitch with fashion sense

I seen a baby cry, and seconds later she laughs
The beauty of life, the pain never lasts

[Edited on July 29, 2010 at 12:10 PM. Reason : .]

7/29/2010 12:07:53 PM

hell yeah - this dude is nice.

i'm really liking his mixtapes and he definitely holds his own on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tPcOC4-PDY


rapping alongside talib kweli, jay electronica and mos def

7/29/2010 4:49:52 PM