Jermaine Lamarr Cole, aka J.Cole is undoubtedly one of the best rappers in the game today. Born in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole's love for rapping began when J. Money put him in the rap game.
His cousin coached him in the basics of rhyming and word play, and his mother put up the money to buy him a beat machine so he could produce his own music.
Cole moved to New York City after high school with hopes of a better chance at his dream. He graduated magna cum laude from St. John's University, where he majored in communications. He began his career in 2007 with his debut mixtape "The Come Up," which gave him his initial recognition as a rapper.
Two years later, he became the first artist to officially be signed by Jay Z's Roc Nation. His album "2014 Forest Hills Drive" was announced only three weeks before its release, and still managed to debut at No. 1 on the all-genre albums chart with 353,000 copies in its first week.
"4 Your Eyez Only" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and pulled the third-largest weekly sales for an album in 2016, following close behind to Drake's "Views."
Cole became the first rapper to go platinum in 25 years without features. The facts aren't even necessary to prove that J.Cole is the best. What makes him so unique is his ambition to sway the current trends in rap music, to something more insightful and passionate.
If you still disagree that J. Cole isn't making a monumental name for himself, take a listen to 15 of his most influential songs:
1. Crooked Smile
"Love yourself girl, or nobody will..."
2. No Role Modelz
"I want a real love, dark skinned and Aunt Viv love,
that Jada and that Will love,
that leave a toothbrush at your crib love,
and you ain't gotta wonder whether that's your kid love .."
3. G.O.M.D.
"Why every rich black ***** gotta be famous? Why every broke black ***** gotta be brainless? That's a stereotype, driven by some people up in Ariel Heights.."
4. Lost Ones
"They say everything happens for a reason, and people change like the seasons.."
5. Power Trip
"Love is a drug like the strongest stuff ever.."
6. LAnd of the Snakes
"Watch the snakes 'cause they watching you.."
7. Trouble
"They say live fast, die young..so I drive slow and pray I die old.."
8. A Tale of 2 Citiez
"Whatever goes up surely must come down and you'll get your piece, but no, peace won't be found."
9. St. Tropez
"If we at war, then this is a war I can't afford.."
10. Immortal
"To die a young legend or live a long life unfulfilled 'cause you wanna change the world but while alive you never will 'cause they only feel you after you gone..."
11. Dollar and A Dream III
"You logged off 'cause I'm online, small talk from small minds.."
12. Deja Vu
"Some people talk about that love at first site sh*t, to keep it real I don't know whether I believe it's true..but if it is then tell me if I'm wrong or right if I fell in love with you before I ever even knew.."
13. Apparently
"Best friends really make great for enemies..."
14. Neighbors
"Some things you can't escape: death, taxes and a ra-cist society that make every ***** feel like a candidate.."
15. Runaway
"In this life ain't no happy endings, only pure begginnings followed by years of sinning and fake repentence."
"You are perfect exactly as you are. With all your flaws and problems, there's no need to change anything. All you need to change is the thought that you aren't good enough."
-J. Cole
