Jermaine Cole, popularly known as J. Cole, is a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur from Fayetteville, North Carolina.
J. Cole has been celebrated for his oratory and lyrical abilities since the release of his debut mixtape “The Come Up” in 2007. The project featured a song called “Dollar & A Dream”, and he sold it on college campuses for $1, according to Trapital.
Drawn to the hustle, he caught the attention of rap legend Jay-Z. He became the first artist signed to Roc Nation in 2009, prior to releasing two more critically acclaimed mixtapes “The Warm Up” and “Friday Night Lights.” It is estimated that he earned $3 million for his “Dollar & A Dream” tour.
In 2011, after the release of his first album, Cole opened for Drake on his sold-out “Club Paradise” tour which grossed approximately $43.3 million, according to Capital Xtra.
His headlining tours for “Forest Hills Drive” and “4 Your Eyez Only” earned $20.4 million and $35.6 million respectively.
In addition to his solo projects, he’s made collaborative albums and hosted festivals with artists on his Dreamville label.
