j. cole Archives

Kendrick Lamar Sends A Black Friday Message To All Who Doubt He’s Still A Lyrical Monster (Audio)

Earlier this year, Kendrick Lamar released his critically-acclaimed follow up to good kid, m.A.A.d. city. That album, To Pimp A Butterfly, was a departure from the narratives and music of his major label debut, layering in dense funk powered by musicians like Thundercat, Terrace Martin and, the original funkateer, George... Read more

November 27, 2015 Audio

Can He Kick It? J. Cole Does With A Soulful ATCQ Remix (Audio)

As the release date for the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of A Tribe Called Quest's People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths of Rhythm debut album fast approaches (11/13), they drop their third and final bonus track from the LP. Remixes of "Bonita Applebum" and "Footprints," by Pharrell and Cee Lo... Read more

November 10, 2015 Audio

Cee Lo Green Follows A Tribe Called Quest’s Footprints & Flips A Classic (Audio)

As the release date for A Tribe Called Quest's 25th Anniversary re-issue of their People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths of Rhythm album inches closer, more details are being released about what is promising to be one of the most anticipated projects of the season. Dropping November 13, the album... Read more

October 27, 2015 Audio

On The 20th Anniversary Of The Million Man March, Hip-Hop Shows Up

Today (October 10), a protest march was held in the nation's capital. Washington, D.C. played host to the Justice Or Else March, a gathering intended to raise awareness and protest against police violence against Black Americans, among other races profiled and brutalized by law enforcement. Symbolically, today's march was held... Read more

October 10, 2015 Lifestyle, News

This Streaming Music Mix Is A 52 Song Pick-You-Up (Playlist)

Lots of great music has been releasing as of late. Whether YG's G-Funk revival "Twist My Fingers," Lil Dicky and Snoop Dogg's job interview-in-rhyme, or Drake's surgical Meek Mill reply "Back To Back," there is plenty of diversity, tangibility, and value in music in 2015. Artists are steadily moving their... Read more

August 17, 2015 Playlists

J. Cole Reflects on Art & Life in Jamaica for New Short Film (Video)

Currently on his Forest Hills Drive Tour, J. Cole is a busy man; in addition to promoting his latest album, the MC and producer is turning heads for his collaboration with the one and only Janet Jackson on her much-anticipated return to airwaves, "No Sleeep." Also featured on Houston rapper... Read more

August 6, 2015 Video

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of July 2015 (Audio)

July has traditionally been slow for Hip-Hop releases, but 2015 proved to be the exception. The month brought new music from a wide variety of artists and set the stage for a blockbuster August, with the return of Dr. Dre and Warren G. Here are the best Hip-Hop songs of... Read more

August 5, 2015 Mixes

Rise & Shine: Watch Janet Jackson & J. Cole in ‘No Sleeep’ (Video)

Janet is back. The legendary pop icon hasn't released any new music in more than 7 years. Next month, she will kick off her Unbreakable World Tour to promote what will be her eleventh solo effort (the first album of hers since the passing of her brother, Michael, in 2009).... Read more

July 24, 2015 Video

J. Cole and Trae tha Truth Lament Over Children Left Behind (Audio)

A veteran of Houston's rap scene (he's even got his very own Trae Day in his hometown), Trae tha Truth has been releasing solo music since 2003, when he dropped Losing Composure, an all H-Town affair featuring Paul Wall, Bun B, Chamillionaire, and his fellow Guerrilla Maab cohorts Z-Ro and... Read more

July 24, 2015 Audio

J. Cole Joins Janet Jackson With A Shining Verse For Her No Sleeep Remix (Audio)

In the seven years since Janet Jackson had released new music, J. Cole had transcended from a hopeful MC/producer in North Carolina to one of the genre's biggest stars overall. Part of what delivered Jermaine Cole to the mainstream was his knack for working with singers, showcasing versatility on nearly... Read more

July 23, 2015 Audio

J. Cole & Omen Prove Things Change, But Thoughtful Music Has Not (Audio)

While Bas and Cozz have jumped up early to show Dreamville's fast-track to a full-service record label, Omen has been with J. Cole since nearly the beginning. From 2009's The Warm Up, MC/producer Omen has been with Cole, sharing a similar perspective. Omen's 2010 Delayed mixtape featured an early Kendrick... Read more

July 21, 2015 Audio

What Do Cole & Kendrick’s Hair Have to Do With Progress? Talib Kweli Explains In A New Essay

With a long history of being socially and politically critical, not only in his lyrics but also outside of the studio, Brooklyn, New York MC Talib Kweli has shared his strong beliefs on a vast array of topics including racism, police brutality, and the prison industrial complex. In addition, he... Read more

June 30, 2015 Lifestyle

J. Cole Celebrates “Friday Night Lights” With Dollar & A Dream Tour III

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the release of J. Cole's Friday Night Lights, a retail mixtape for which the word "success" is an understatement. Cracking the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 charts, it was the second Roc Nation release for Cole and the lead-in to his 2011... Read more

June 16, 2015 Video

Chance the Rapper & Donnie Trumpet Release a Star-Studded Free Album (Stream & Download)

Chance The Rapper along with frequent collaborator/close friend Donnie Trumpet, have been selectively putting out music through their band, The Social Experiment for some time. In that span, listeners of the experimental Hip-Hop group have been waiting for a full body of work. Today, (May 29) Donnie Trumpet & The... Read more

May 29, 2015 Audio

Oddisee Reveals He’s Produced a Song for Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole (Video)

Oddisee's The Good Fight is bringing a lot of attention to the Diamond District cofounder. Despite the fact that he's been making music on a large scale for more than a dozen years, Heads are still discovering the Mello Music Group mainstay. In an interview with Respect Due, Oddy' opens up... Read more

May 20, 2015 Video

Inspectah Deck, Kool Keith & Headkrack Demand Justice For Unarmed Black Men (Premiere)

Three Bronx, New York MCs unite to speak on very pressing and sensitive issues in American society. Kool Keith, Inspectah Deck, and Headkrack decry the excessive force used by some law enforcement. These incidents, particularly over the last five years, have resulted in the increased death-count of Black men and... Read more

May 11, 2015 Audio, Exclusive

Styles P Paints Complex Pictures of a Hustler’s Life Over Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole Tracks (Audio)

Out of the recent spate of freestyle series, Styles P has consistently made the most interesting choices of beats to re-purpose. While others have settled comfortably in a single lane, often based on songs from a specific era, Ghost seemingly has followed no specific theme, other than to select tracks... Read more

May 9, 2015 Audio

Can An MC Be Considered The Greatest of All-Time After 5 Years? This Short Film Says YES (Video)

“Can it be that it was all so simple then?” The nostalgia effect is a strong one in Hip-Hop, and causes us not only to look back with optimistic revision, but also, at times, prevents us from embracing the greatness of late. It is not uncommon to hear someone argue... Read more

May 8, 2015 Video

Rakim is Releasing His First Solo Album in More Than 5 Years (Video)

Montreality, with their original and spirited questions, spoke to Rakim, again (after his grabbing 2012 look). Sitting down with the God MC, a lot is covered in less than 10 minutes. Notably, Rakim confirmed that he is fast at work on his fourth solo studio album. "This is one of... Read more

April 27, 2015 Video

J. Cole Unleashes a New Visual About Young Love…Literally (Video)

Last year's 2014 Forest Hills Drive album fully-delivered on the promise J. Cole has shown since the days of his mixtape, The Warm Up. That project put Cole on the map of Heads all over the world, including that of Jay Z. After a couple of major label releases that... Read more

April 21, 2015 Video

J. Cole Finally Gets His Platinum Plaque, Thanks To 2014 Forest Hills Drive

J. Cole is undoubtedly one of the premier Hip-Hop stars of the 2010s. Even before the new decade came in, Cole's The Warm Up topped year-end lists, and the Fayetteville, North Carolina MC/producer was quickly thrown into a class alongside Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Wale. It's taken five years, but... Read more

April 1, 2015 News

J. Cole & Cozz Showcase That Dreams Can Come True (Video)

Buzzing Dreamville signee Cozz drops the visual for the “Knock Tha Hustle Remix," a single off of his Cozz And Effect project, adding two standout verses to the inspiring visual. As on the digital album, the South Central Los Angeles MC gets his man J. Cole to spit the imagery of... Read more

March 26, 2015 Video

J. Cole Leads a Slave Uprising in His Latest Visual. The Revolution is Televised (Video)

J. Cole has released a new music video for "G.O.M.D." off of his 2014 Forest Hills Drive album. While the song itself may put Heads in a party vibe with the bouncy beat and catchy hook, the visual is more thought-provoking, as it's set during slavery times in the South.... Read more

March 23, 2015 Video

J. Cole Reflects On His Art & Career With Tavis Smiley (Video)

In support of his album 2014 Forest Hills Drive and its corresponding 64-city world tour, J. Cole recently gave an interview on the Tavis Smiley show. The interview touches on a few things Cole has spoken about before, but also gives fans a more introspective look at Cole's past and... Read more

March 18, 2015 Video

Just Blaze Releases The Beat Jay-Z & Rick Ross Wanted, Encourages Only Nice MCs To Touch It (Audio)

Just Blaze is one of the more interesting producers on social media. The Patterson, New Jersey producer/DJ enjoys waxing poetic about music, technology, industry, life, and engaging with his legions of fans. With that unpredictability in mind, Just released "Miracle," an instrumental track that he claims was a bidding war... Read more

February 23, 2015 Audio

Here’s a Flawless Blend of Jay-Z, Nas and Mary J. Blige on President’s Day (Audio)

For decades, the president's most mentioned in Hip-Hop are the late ones...So, on Presidents Day here's a look back at a flawless blend of Jay-Z, Nas and Mary J. Blige by Heretic East Productions, from 2011. "Dead Presidents Remix" combines Jay's first verse from the original "Dead Presidents," with Nas'... Read more

February 16, 2015 The Bridge

J. Cole Talks 2014 Forest Hills Drive & Being The Voice Of A Generation On Combat Jack (Audio)

Considered one of 2014's Men of The Year according to AFH, J. Cole hops into 2015 continuing promotion for his critically acclaimed project, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, on The Combat Jack Show. In between talks of his socially conscious album, the 29 year old MC dives deep into discussions of... Read more

January 27, 2015 Audio

Listen to Over 170 of the Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2014 in One Playlist (Audio)

2014 was an incredibly diverse year for Hip-Hop, musically and thematically. Many of the sounds that have dominated airwaves and web streams remained, but something returned that had been missing from the culture for quite some time: the voice of the people. In a year that saw more unrest in... Read more

January 5, 2015 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

Men Of The Year: How Killer Mike & J. Cole Represented Hip-Hop Honorably In 2014 (Food For Thought)

Happy 2015 from Ambrosia For Heads! As we, as Heads, reflect on the year that was, it's important to look for the specific individuals that made it great. In Hip-Hop, this year was something of a rarity, where a spectrum of nominees could be argued for "Album Of The Year."... Read more

January 1, 2015 Food for Thought, Fresh

AFH:14 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2014 (Food For Thought)

2014 was a special year in Hip-Hop music. Rather than a usual suspect front-running in spotlight, this was a democratic crop of albums—where new artists made cohesive introductory works, veterans advanced their skillsets and redefined their reputations, and underground MCs challenged the mainstream. There were artists who released multiple works,... Read more

December 31, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought

5 Things That Made Hip-Hop Proud in 2014 (Food For Thought)

Looking at the culture, 2014 had plenty to offer. In addition to the albums, the mixtapes, the songs, and the videos, there was real action. The year, from the Hip-Hop vantage point, brought everlasting history in some areas, and demanded change in others. The culture, the players, and the people... Read more

December 30, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh

Waka Flocka Flame Snatches J. Cole’s Beat & Steps Up His Bars (Audio)

Now this is a surprise. Waka Flocka Flame hops on J. Cole's "Fire Squad" track and steps his bars up...way up. Whatever you may think of Waka, you have never heard him flow like this. Like his mentor-turned-foe Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame is among Hip-Hop's most polarizing figures. Upon... Read more

December 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

J. Cole Says Capitalism is Like Paid Slavery and It’s Time for Change (Video)

Remember the Occupy movement and all the energy around the imbalance between the 1% and all the rest? As passionate as many in the country were about those issues, the protests at the time have faded leaving little more than a footnote. Whether it's bills, family issues or just the... Read more

December 13, 2014 Video

J. Cole Delivers a Stunning Performance of Be Free on Letterman (Video)

"I'm letting you know that there ain't no gun they can make that can kill my soul." J. Cole is on a different level these days. He performed a powerful version of "Be Free" on Late Show with David Letterman that left everyone in the room stunned, including Dave (visibly).... Read more

December 13, 2014 Video

J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive Is A Homecoming For More Than Himself (Album Review)

There is beauty in the struggle. There is ugliness in the success. Whether you’re currently satisfied within the achievements you envisioned for yourself, on the cusp of that individual gratification, or miles away from your desired prosperity, Jermaine Lamar Cole has arrived with his third full-length album, 2014 Forest Hills... Read more

December 10, 2014 Food for Thought, Fresh

J. Cole Sings About His Mother Losing Her Home to Foreclosure on Apparently (Video)

J. Cole is his own featured artist on "Apparently." The majority of the song finds Cole in stream of consciousness mode singing about such intimate things as his guilt over being unaware his mother was losing her house on Forest Hills (part of the title of his new album) to... Read more

December 9, 2014 Video

J. Cole Releases One of His Realest Songs Yet with Adolescence (Audio)

Witness the re-birth of J. Cole. With very little fanfare, he has released one of his finest works yet with his 2014 Forest Hills Drive album. Contrary to what the title suggests, this is a return to the J. Cole of 2009--the North Carolina MC whose Warm Up mixtape restored... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio

J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive Is Something Meaningful, From Jump (Video)

J. Cole is playing with a different sound on his seeming surprise album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive (December 9). Still almost five days removed from release, Jermaine has taken a page from Taylor Swift, using social media to connect with fans, and personally play them this intimate album–at home. Additionally,... Read more

December 5, 2014 Fresh, Video

J. Cole Loves His Fans’ Company More Than Their Money (Video)

Less than a month away from his 2014 Forest Hills Drive album, his third LP, J. Cole and The Fader released this intimate look at J. Cole's reasoning behind his Dollar And A Dream Tour. The North Carolina MC/producer seems to be focused heavily on his own small town beginnings.... Read more

November 19, 2014 Fresh, Video

It’s Official. J. Cole is Releasing His Next Album on December 9th (Video)

After listings for a J. Cole album popped up on iTunes and Amazon earlier, rumors spread that the Roc Nation MC was releasing his 3rd major label album on December 9th. Well, it's official. Jermaine has confirmed via Twitter and YouTube that his next album will be called 2014 Forest... Read more

November 17, 2014 Video

Finding The GOAT: J. Cole vs. Big K.R.I.T…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

October 13, 2014 Fresh

Cozz & J. Cole Say You Can’t Knock Tha Hustle (Audio)

Much as J. Cole's mentor and label head Jay Z said emphatically on 1996's Reasonable Doubt, Cole and his mentee/label signee Cozz join forces to remind Heads you "Can't Knock Tha Hustle" on the remix to Cozz's track. Cole and Cozz unite over a smokey, jazz-flavored beat to speak on... Read more

October 3, 2014 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Discusses His Control Verse 1-Year Later (Video)

Kendrick Lamar dropped by Power 106 and while there was reminded the 1-year anniversary of the verse that shook up the Hip-Hop world had recently passed (8/13). 13 months removed from the furor, Kendrick put the song in perspective and spoke on his relationships with many of the artists he... Read more

September 23, 2014 Video

Dr. Dre Estimated To Have Made More Than Next 24 Wealthiest Hip-Hop Stars, Combined

It's Dre Day, and everybody's celebratin'. Following 2013's announcement that Jay Z and Puff Daddy were the Forbes Cash Kings (top earners) of the year, they can watch the throne now. As anticipated, Dr. Dre assumes the pole position—following a year where Apple bought his Beats By Dre Electronics line... Read more

September 23, 2014 Fresh

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of August 2014 (Audio)

August was a banner month for Hip-Hop. Not only was there good music but several artists used their talents to speak out against the killing of Michael Brown and the events that transpired in Ferguson, MO. Though the Summer is fading, the heat generated from the music in August lingers.... Read more

September 6, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage

J. Cole Lights it Up at Made in America in Philadelphia (Video)

J. Cole joined the likes of Kanye West, Big Daddy Kane and more yesterday at the Made in America festival in Philadelphia. Cole ran through a set that included songs from both his albums and his vaunted mixtapes. Check out the performance below. You can also watch a live stream... Read more

August 31, 2014 Video

J. Cole Pays Respect To Michael Brown In Ferguson (Video)

Just a few days ago, J. Cole released an incredibly heartfelt track, "Be Free," dedicated to the recent passing of Michael Brown and the tragic events that continue to unfold in Ferguson, Missouri. But that wasn't enough for Cole. Making his way to the scene of Brown's passing, J. Cole... Read more

August 18, 2014 Fresh, Video

J. Cole Sings an Emotional Song About Michael Brown (Audio)

J. Cole's words speak for themselves on this one: "There was a time in my life when I gave a fuck. Every chance I got I was screaming about it. I was younger. It’s so easy to try to save the world when you’re in college. You got nothing but... Read more

August 15, 2014 Audio

Cozz is One to Watch. Check out How He Goes to Work on Window Shopper (Audio)

Turnabout is fair play. For the last several weeks, G-Unit has been jacking beats and making them their own. Now, Cozz, who recently signed to J. Cole's Dreamville label, hops on the Unit's "Window Shopper" track and works it over. With Bas and now Cozz, Cole is quickly assembling a... Read more

August 13, 2014 Audio

Bas Heads To Paris From JFK To Charles de Gaulle (Video)

When Bas met future label mate J. Cole, he became the first rapper outside of his friends to compliment him on his abilities and went on to sign him as one of the first artists on Dreamville Records. That was in 2009. Bas went on to release a few successful... Read more

July 16, 2014 Fresh, Video