J Cole, real name Jermaine Cole, was born on an Army base in Germany on January 28, 1985. The rapper grew up in Fayetteville, NC, and rose to fame after graduating from St. John’s College in NYC. His early love of basketball influenced many of his mixtapes. He eventually caught the attention of Jay-Z after some trial and error and has since become one of the most sought-after rappers/producers in the game.
In addition to rap, J Cole is the founder of the Dreamville record label and has released compilation albums that have gone on to help jump-start the careers of others. He also holds a stake in Tidal and is signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. He also has an endorsement deal with Puma. His career has been highlighted with several short films and he is seen as one of the most authentic rappers of his generation.