J. Cole first took up rapping in his teens, collaborating with the local Fayetteville hip hop duo Bomm Sheltuh.[1]The Come Up, his debut mixtape, was released on May 4, 2007.[2] Following the release of The Come Up, J. Cole was contacted by American rapper Jay-Z and subsequently signed to his record label Roc Nation.[3][4] Cole released his second mixtape The Warm Up on June 15, 2009. "Lights Please", the first single from The Warm Up, peaked at number nine on the United States BillboardBubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart and became Cole's first entry on a national record chart.[5] He was later featured on "All I Want Is You", a 2010 single by American R&B singer Miguel – it peaked at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[6] J. Cole's third mixtape Friday Night Lights was released on November 12, 2010.
J. Cole's second studio album, Born Sinner, was released on June 18, 2013. Its lead single, "Power Trip" (featuring Miguel), peaked at number 19 on the Hot 100 and received a platinum certification from the RIAA.[6][10]
On December 9, 2014, he released his third studio album 2014 Forest Hills Drive. The album was supported by four singles: "Apparently","Wet Dreamz", "No Role Modelz" and "Love Yourz". The album sold 353,358 copies in its first week, and became the first rap album in 25 years to be certified platinum in the US with no guest appearances.[11] The songs "No Role Modelz" and "Wet Dreamz" later received a 6× platinum and a 4× platinum certification respectively from the RIAA in August 2020.[10]
In addition to his fourth album, Cole released three singles in 2016: "Love Yourz", "Everybody Dies", and "False Prophets". His album, 4 Your Eyez Only, was released on the second anniversary of 2014 Forest Hill Drive. 4 Your Eyez Only was certified gold before it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, despite having no singles upon release.[10] "Deja Vu" was later given a single release after peaking at number 7 on the Hot 100.[6] J. Cole's fifth album, KOD, was also a commercial success, as both the album and its individual tracks broke numerous streaming and chart placement records.[12] J. Cole became the first musician ever to debut three new songs in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.[13] As a result of sales and streaming figures, he was the first recording artist to have a trio of tracks open inside the uppermost tier at the same time, with "ATM", "Kevin's Heart", and "KOD".[14] Cole also managed to tie with the Beatles in simultaneously having six positions in the top 20 on the Hot 100 chart, a record that the rock band had previously held for 54 years.[15]
Albums
Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
^"High for Hours" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number four on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[5]
^"High for Hours" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number five on the NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart.[63]
^"Snow on tha Bluff" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 17 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[66]
^"The Climb Back" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number eight on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[67]
^"Lion King on Ice" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number five on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[67]
^"Your Heart" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number three on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[68]
^"On the Street" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number four on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[69]
^"The Secret Recipe" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 18 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[70]
^"Grippy" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 16 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[71]
^"Trouble" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 13 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[56]
^"Come Through and Chill" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[56]
^"Purple Emoji" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 11 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[56]
^"Scared Money" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 8 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[85]
^"Blow Up" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 17 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]
^"In the Morning" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 17 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[56]
^"Undercover" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 15 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]
^"Villuminati" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]
^"Rich Niggaz" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number ten on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]
^"Let Nas Down" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number five on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]
^"Born Sinner" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number three on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]
^"January 28th" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[56]
^"03' Adolescence" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[56]
^"A Tale of 2 Citiez" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[56]
^"Fire Squad" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number five on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[56]
^"G.O.M.D." did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number nine on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[56]
^"Jermaine's Interlude" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]
^"Immortal" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number four on the NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart.[61]
^"Photograph" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number six on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[87]
^"Motiv8" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number five on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[87]
^"Kevin's Heart" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number eight on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[87]
^"1985" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number 12 on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[87]
^"Pretty Little Fears" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 13 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[88]
^"Pretty Little Fears" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number 11 on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[89]
^"Jodeci Freestyle" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[5]
^"95 South" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number five on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[90]
^"Applying Pressure" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number five on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[91]
^"Punchin' the Clock" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number 12 on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[91]
^"100 Mil'" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number nine on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[91]
^"Let Go My Hand" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number two on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[91]
^"Stressed" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 16 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[92]
^"Stick" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 22 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[93]
^"Freedom of Speech" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[56]
^"Freedom of Speech" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 34 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[93]
^"Heaven's EP" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 36 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[93]
^"Evil Ways" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number five on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[94]
^"Pricey" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number five on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[95]
^"Crocodile Tearz" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number four on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[95]
^"Red Leather" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number nine on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[96]
"Your Heart": "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 4 October 2021". The ARIA Report. No. 1648. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 4, 2021. p. 4.
"On the Street": "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 13 March 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1723. Australian Recording Industry Association. March 13, 2023. p. 4.
"Crocodile Tearz" and "H.Y.B.": "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 15 April 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1780. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 15, 2024. p. 4.