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J. Cole Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

It’s all a blur tour: big as the what tour, j. cole at dreamville festival 2024.

• Crocodile Tearz
• MIDDLE CHILD
• A Tale of 2 Citiez
• Pretty Little Fears
• Johnny P's Caddy
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J. Cole at Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA

J. cole at frost bank center, san antonio, tx, usa.

• Wake Up to Me
• The Secret Recipe
• No Role Modelz

J. Cole at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, Lexington, KY, USA

J. cole at smoothie king center, new orleans, la, usa, j. cole at t-mobile center, kansas city, mo, usa.

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• Power Trip ( 134 )
• No Role Modelz ( 123 )
• Wet Dreamz ( 123 )
• A Tale of 2 Citiez ( 118 )
• Can't Get Enough ( 113 )

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820 people have seen J. Cole live.

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J. Cole  

• On tour: no
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Born Jermaine Lamarr Cole on 28 January 1985, but known by his musical alias J. Cole, this hip-hop artist grew up in North Carolina. He has a German mother and African-American father.

Cole was interested in music at the tender age of 12 and began working on his rapping skills during his teen hood. He moved to New York City to study at St. John’s University just so he could find more opportunities to grow his music career. He released several mixtapes following graduation: “The Come Up” in 2007 and “The Warm Up” in June 2009. Cole persistently sought the attention of hip hop artist and producer Jay-Z and his efforts were rewarded soon after.

J. Cole collaborated with several high profile hip hop artists in the next years including Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, and B.o.B. After gaining some experience and cementing a deal with Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation, J.Cole dropped his single “Who Dat” in 2010. The single was a prequel to his third mixtape entitled “Friday Night Lights” which debuted the same year. J.Cole began supporting hip hop superstars Rihanna and Drake on tour, which helped to increase his fanbase.

Roc Nation produced J.Cole’s debut album “Cole World: The Sideline Story” and it dropped on 27 September 2011 to rave reviews. The album jumped to the top of the Billboard 200 and features big names like Drake, Missy Elliott, Trey Songz, and of course Jay-Z. His success led to a nomination for “Best New Artist at the 2012 Grammy Awards.

J.Cole’s sophomore album “Born Sinner” followed in the footsteps of his first album. It was released in 2013 and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The album features guest artists TLC, Miguel, and Kendrick Lamar. J. Cole has since established his own label called Dreamville Records.

J.Cole cites Canibus and Eminem as his musical inspirations. He also grew up listening to his father’s favorite artists 2Pac and Ice Cube and his mother’s favorite genres: folk and rock.

Live reviews

J. Cole is sometimes an underappreciated artist and I believe that the astuteness of his lyrics are not given enough credit. As a huge fan, I knew I couldn’t miss his live performance in London (December 2013) as soon as I heard of it. At the Hammersmith Apollo, the anxiety of the fans was notorious. After jamming to hot hip-hop tracks with Tim Westwood in the pre-show, it was nice to see another Dreamville member doing his thing as Bas stepped on stage. For a rap artist, Cole made quite a big entrance, which included great lighting and some amazing background singers. In this concert, he sang most of the “Born Sinner” tracks (“Crooked Smile,” “Power Trip,” “She Knows" and “Forbidden Fruit” – to name a few,) his latest album at the time of the event, which was expected by the fans. But that was far from being his setlist. He managed to include hits from his first album as well as songs from his mixtapes, which were even better received from the audience. Although some rappers tend to not sing the whole tracks or skip the chorus vocals, Cole gave it all and sang every verse, keeping the energy high. One of the most memorable moments was when he started singing “Light Please” in a very calm ambient, giving room for the fans who followed him from the start to sing along. But what really marked me in his show was not only his honest and down-to-earth talks in between songs, but the fact he gave the fans a chance to choose extra songs. As a result, he sang a few unexpected tracks like “Back to the Topic” from a mixtape and also “Is She Gon Pop” from the latest album. In sum, J. Cole didn’t disappoint at all and totally made my trip worthwhile. In fact, he made me want to keep following his work and be attentive to future shows.

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J Cole was absolutely insane at O2!! I had the time of my life listening to my favourite artist live! As corny as it sounds, I could feel like the music in my whole body and could feel the emotion in every lyric he sang. If you're a Cole fan, I definitely recommend going to see him live because it will multiply the love you have for him because he's just so fucking incredible at connecting with the audience! His narrative and general stage presence is so intense there were so many moments I felt completely surreal jumping and singing to his voice. Such a memorable and perfect night I can't even properly word it!! The supporting acts (Ari Lennox and Earthgang - J.I.D was also there but I missed him I think) were also brilliant. Having the crowd chant 'Fuck Donald Trump!' really got me pumped (Earthgang), and overall, J Cole managed to keep everyone in the audience jumping, shouting, dancing and sweating till the very last second. I didn't know what and how much I was missing out on before I went to this concert, and every time he confirms a tour, I'll be the first to book tickets because he's a fucking legend who can sing, rap and write the most awe-inspiring songs!

Jermaine Lamarr Cole, better known by his stage name of J. Cole is an elusive visitor to the British isles yet when he does happen to appear, his devoted fan base flock to see this talented artist perform live. An intelligent lyricist and a sincere live performer, as the house lights fall on the hushed chatter of the crowd, Cole appears in humble manner leading on his band and backing singers.

The sound is near perfect in the venue and you can hear every single word perfectly annunciated during opener 'Trouble'. The crowd has clearly been waiting a while to see Jermaine perform as they sing back the lyrics with such force and dedication. Cole thanks them profusely for this before moving on to other fan favourites such as 'Nobody's Perfect', his collaboration with Mary J. Blige.

The speed in which Cole can freestyle keeps the audience cheering along yet it is early singles 'Who Dat' and 'Can't Get Enough' that send them into frenzy. Clearly enjoying himself onstage, J. Cole performs huge versions of these tracks before thanking the crowd for enjoying a show they will not be forgetting anytime soon.

J. Cole last night was amazing. Bringing his dreamville team he had Bas, Cozz and Omen warm up the crowd with beats that got us all searching em up on our way home from the venue.

Soon J.Cole walks on stage and the crowd is screaming, cheering for 5 min straight, everybody in the venue is standing up, jumping with excitement. And the excitement is getting more and more real as he preforms every song from his new "forest hills drive" album along with some old joints from his album "The Sideline Story" like "work out" and "lights please".

The vibe is intimate and turnt at the same time in the little venue sentrum scene in Oslo is. He takes time to appreciate everybody that came out to see him and deliver an amazing music experience with his rhymes and presence.

Thank YOU Cole.

The whole lineup was phenomenal! He really inspired and made it very personal. That is what an artist is suppose to do. He performed the whole album and a few from his previous albums. I have been a J. Cole fan since day one. When my boyfriend and I were just best friends singing "Best Friend" and that being my ringtone to "just like a star" and just growing with his music. My boyfriend is an aspiring rapper and honestly this concert gave him the motivation, while listening to J.Cole I watch my boyfriends eyes light up while the hair stood up on his arms. J.Cole please come back again. We will always be a fan!

You put on a great show Big Sean, great, Jeremih, awesome and YG we want more music you had the crowd going!

Best concert I've been to in a while!

I saw J cole last night in Dublin, it was the most amazing experience of my life,

He truly is an amazing person and He showed us his past and let us see what each song was about, which I thought was a great add to the concert and made it more personal. If I could, I would repeat last night over and over again, and I would never get sick of it, j cole is a MUST SEE, also such a kind man Aswel, have huge respect for him and his opinions. Also- as he told us last night he has a bit of Irish in him as his grandmother went on the boat from ireland to America, and his grandmother gave birth to his mother, and his mother gave birth to J Cole. How amazing is that !!!!

One of the best shows I've ever had the pleasure of attending. At first, I was pissed that I couldn't find a date, despite getting the tickets months in advance. However, before long, Cole made me forget all about my dismal love life, and reminded me of why I do my social activism. If we don't demand change, we'll keep getting a red, white, blue dildo jammed up our rear ends. To put it another way, change is inevitable. Will it be ultimately for the better or worst, is the question though. Also, what will we tell our children's children when they ask us what did we honestly do to make the world a better place for them?

Hooooly shit was that good! This man knows how to put on a show, I tell you hwat! Even though the band wasn't featured, we knew they were there, and the musicianship was stellar. The man who was featured delivered the goods. He didn't just stand there, hiding behind a fancy coat, sunglasses and a crap-ton of bling. He brought energy and feeling to his set that made his openers' sets feel lackluster. When he spoke, I believed him. I felt his heart. One of the best shows I've ever seen.

Oh, and kudos to Honda Center and the soundsystem. Really good sound isn't always easy to come by in an arena, and they killed it!

Beyond my expectations! J Cole is so humble, speaks the truth and really wants to resonate his energy, thoughts, beliefs, and opinions with his audience! Not only did he play songs from his current hit album, 4 Your Eyes Only but hit it back to 2014, Forest Hill Drive and if you were digging him from the beginning with songs such as Nobody's Perfect etc. It was an amazing concert and I'm glad I went. It's all about investment. You either are willing to spend a certain amount of money, in them good seats and see and hear J Cole, or you couldn't be bothered. For me, the investment was worthwhile!

The best concert ever Jermaine (j.cole) is truly an amazing soul he performed for 2 hours nonstop ! Interacted with his supporters you can't really say that about other rappers who just perform for 30 minutes and go about their day , also in the show j.cole explained his songs from the album and also picked a fan to sing with him it was an amazing experience I was on the big screen twice & and he acknowledged my poster this was my first time seeing him but it won't be my last ! I love you Jermaine Lamarr Cole Thank you so much for last night .

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J. Cole Announces KOD Tour With Young Thug as His Special Guest

J. Cole announces KOD Tour with Young Thug serving as his special guest.

By Carl Lamarre

Carl Lamarre

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After returning back to his element on the performance side with JMBLYA Fest last weekend, J. Cole announced his KOD Tour via Instagram  on Tuesday morning (May 8).

The 34-date tour will kick off in Miami Aug. 9 with Young Thug serving as his special guest throughout the summer trek. Along the way, Cole World will cruise through several notable markets including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and more, before concluding Oct. 10 in Boston. In between his multi-city jaunt, Cole will launch his inaugural Dreamville Festival in his home state of North Carolina on Sept. 15. 

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J. Cole Makes Record Vault to No. 1 on Billboard Artist 100 Chart

General public will have the opportunity to purchase tickets May 12 at 10 a.m. local time at Dreamville.com and LiveNation.com. This weekend, both Cole and Thug will get to polish off any rust with headlining performances at Rolling Loud in Miami. 

Take a look at Cole’s KOD Tour dates below. 

  KOD Tour. @thuggerthugger1 pre sale tomorrow. Tix on sale Saturday. Choose Wisely. — A post shared by realcoleworld (@realcoleworld) on May 8, 2018 at 7:10am PDT

KOD Tour Dates Featuring Young Thug

8/9 Miami, FL @ AmericanAirlines Arena 8/11 – Tampa, FL @ Amelia Arena 8/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Infinite Energy Center* 8/13 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center 8/14 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center 8/17 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center 8/18  – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center 8/21 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Arena* 8/22   – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl SDSU 8/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center 8/29 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena 9/2- Boise, ID @ Taco Bell Arena 9/4 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center 9/5 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center 9/7 – Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena 9/8 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena 9/10 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center 9/12 – Little Rock, AR @ Verizon Arena* 9/13 – Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena at The BJCC 9/17 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena 9/18 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center 9/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center 9/21 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesar’s Arena 9/22 – Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena 9/23 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center 9/25 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center 9/26 – Hartford, CT @ XL Center 9/28 – University Park, PA @ Bryce Jordan Center 10/1 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden* 10/4 – Toronto @ Air Canada Centre 10/5 – Montreal @ Bell Centre 10/6- Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center 10/8 – Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena* 10/10 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden

*Dates with asterik means Young Thug will not be performing that night

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J. Cole's Projects, Ranked Worst to Best

What is J. Cole's best project? What is his worst? From 'The Come Up' to 'The Off-Season' to '2014 Forest Hills Drive,' we rank all of J. Cole's projects.

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Over the past decade and a half, we have watched J. Cole grow from a hungry young artist dropping mixtapes in the blog era to one of the most commercially successful rappers on the planet. If you go back and compare those very first tapes to his most recent studio albums, though, you’ll notice he didn’t have to make any big artistic sacrifices to reach that success. Throughout the years, he has stayed true to his own vision, sharpening his skillset along the way, and he didn’t have to dramatically change his sound or messaging to sell a bunch of records. Instead, he gradually built one of the most loyal fanbases in rap. Sure, there have been some blips up and down along the way, but generally, he’s been on an upward trajectory over the years. After the release of The Off-Season, we found ourselves wondering: Where does this stack up next to the rest of his discography? What are the best J. Cole projects and what are the worst? So, we ranked all of his projects (including two EPs that we combined as one). Here are all of J. Cole’s projects, ranked from worst to best.

10. The Come Up

Released:  2007

It always feels a little unfair to compare an artist’s debut mixtape with the rest of their discography. We all know that J. Cole went on to make much more refined projects than The Come Up throughout the rest of his career, and he was still figuring out his sound and sharpening his skills when he made this on a tiny budget in his early 20s. That being said, it still has its moments and remains a fun listen (especially for hardcore Cole fans) to this day. True to its title, The Come Up is raw and aspirational. Looking back on it now, you can see how he was planting the seeds for what was to come, even if he hadn’t quite pulled all the pieces together yet. —Eric Skelton

9. Truly Yours EPs

Released:  2013

(Note: For the purposes of this list, we’ve combined these two EPs as one project.) In the second year of awaiting his sophomore album, Born Sinner , and only months before its release, J. Cole fans received two free EPs: Truly Yours 1 in February and Truly Yours 2 in April. When Cole dropped the first one, he penned a letter, explaining that while working on his second album he “recorded at least 4 albums worth of material.” And while some of those songs didn’t make the cut for the album, he wanted the music to be released because the people “deserved” it. Both EPs are largely produced by Cole himself, and there are a handful of standout tracks, including “Can I Holla At Ya,” “Tears for ODB,” and “To Zion” on Truly Yours 1 . On the intro of Truly Yours 2, Cole raps, “T his right here is not a preview of what the album goin’ to bring you, ’’ reminding us that these tracks were simply the crumbs of a gourmet forthcoming album. Overall, it was a palette-cleanser, highlighted by a few gems that still hold value to this day. —Ayaa Mesbah

8. Cole World: The Sideline Story

Released:  2011

Major label debut studio albums are tricky. By the time he made Cole World: The Sideline Story , J. Cole had all the buzz in the world following three successful mixtapes. He had the money, resources, and relationships to take everything to a higher level and establish himself as a true superstar. Along with those blessings, though, came higher expectations and new benchmarks for success. How would he translate the magic of his mixtapes to a big-budget album with radio-minded singles? Well, he did OK. Many (including Nas) were disappointed with glossy records like “Work Out,” and felt Cole could have done a better job staying true to himself. Others were disappointed by the result of his first link-up with Jay-Z on “Mr Nice Watch.” But that disappointment doesn’t carry throughout the whole album. Sideline Story has plenty of worthwhile moments, and it accomplished its goal of stamping Cole’s place in the game (the album debuted at No. 1 and brought in plenty of new fans). Cole would figure out how to make more authentic and seamless major label albums later in his career, and Sideline Story was a learning experience in a lot of ways, but if you go back and listen to it now, you might be surprised with how many great songs are on here. — Eric Skelton

7. 4 Your Eyez Only

Released: 2016

4 Your Eyez Only covers a lot of ground for Cole. There’s rumination on death that introduces itself on “For Whom The Bell Tolls” and latches onto tracks like “Ville Mentality” and the outro “4 Your Eyez Only.” It also offers a window into his life trajectory at the time, becoming a husband and father. Later, he recounts the experience of a SWAT team house raid that occurred on one of his properties on “Neighbors,” the best track on the album. To drive home the point, he also dropped security camera footage of the raid as the official music video, and heavily incorporated it in his later tour. Overall, 4 Your Eyez Only presented a glimpse into Cole’s headspace at the time, bundled into a relatively understated project. —Ayaa Mesbah

6. The Warm Up

Released:  2009

The Warm Up is one of Cole’s more apropos titles. The 22-track tape marks the moment that he went from another fledgling artist in a crowded New York scene to a Roc Nation signee off the strength of “Lights Please,” regarded as a mixtape standout. On the surface, it was a song about lust in a romantic connotation, but others have correctly interpreted the “she” and “hers” as personifications of the rap game. So, when he rhymes about the pride from “killin’ that shit,” it was just a self-fulfilling prophecy. He showed off a little bit of everything on The Warm Up, getting introspective on “Grown Simba,” talking about a crush on “Dreams,” and expressing how both a romantic dalliance and the streets of Fayetteville had him “Losing My Balance.” Though there were still some kinks to work out with his wordplay, his honesty and storytelling ability was promising enough for this to fit around the middle of his discography. — Andre Gee

Released:  2018

During a period in which many young rap listeners were watching their favorite artists battle mental health concerns and drug abuse, J. Cole’s KOD wasn’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects—the intoxicating highs and depressive lows of drugs, fame, and love. Yes, at times Cole can come off a bit preachy, as if he’s a father figure who is heavily critical of a lean-fueled rap culture obsessed with material wealth. But in reality, Cole is offering a hand of support. Known as a conscious rapper of the new generation, he finds himself leaning more into current rap trends. Using catchy hooks and uptempo beats, he’s able to speak to the younger generation on their own terms, with hopes of giving them the tools to change their own realities. Some didn’t ask J. Cole to play hero, but KOD came at the right time. — Jessica McKinney

4. Born Sinner

Born Sinner may not be as consistent as some of J. Cole’s later work, but at its best, the rapper’s second studio album showcases his knack for lyricism and incredibly sharp ear for production. Its standout tracks, “Power Trip,” “Crooked Smile,” “Let Nas Down,” and “Forbidden Fruit” (featuring a young Kendrick Lamar), reveal a shy confidence and intense appreciation for rap’s history as Cole pays homage to the legends that came before him, while introducing his own spin on the genre. Born Sinner ’s biggest fault may be that Cole struggles to find a balance between the demand of mainstream radio and his own personal direction. But still, Cole makes an earnest effort. For an album that debuted on the same day as Kanye’s Yeezus , J. Cole made a big splash. After coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart in its first week, it quickly beat Kanye for the top slot in its third week. Not bad for a newcomer. —Jessica McKinney

3. Friday Night Lights

Released:  2010

“What good is being ‘the one’ if you the only one that knows it,” Cole toils on the intro to his third mixtape, Friday Night Lights . Acting as the prelude to his delayed debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story , Cole came into this project with everything to prove. Friday Night Lights marks the true beginning of his ascent to rap Mt. Olympus—a lyrical exercise of the gutsiest kind. Laced with soulful beats, the Carolina rapper leaves no stone unturned. Similar to the television show of the same name, Cole was still navigating the massive world that lies beyond the confines of Fayetteville, North Carolina at the time. On “Before I’m Gone,” he speaks about making it out the hood, then circles back and promises he’ll make sure others can too on “Home For The Holidays.” He ponders the effects of materialism on his psyche with “Cost Me A Lot,” while simultaneously lulling listeners into a lovestruck stupor on “In The Morning” with Drake. And using a skill he’d refine later, Cole injects Friday Night Lights with bar-centric bangers to balance his narrative ballads about grinding from rags to riches. 

Friday Night Lights could have just been a smooth resignation of loosies to hold fans over until the studio album arrived. But instead, Cole put his pregame jitters to wax and weaved his late-night anxieties into one of his most comprehensive projects to date. Closing with a lyrical steel cage match against the GOOD Music posse of Kanye West, Pusha T, CyHi, and Big Sean on “Looking For Trouble,” he proved that his late nights in the gym had paid off and put the doubters to bed about being able to perform on a grander stage. It’s ironic that his debut studio album couldn’t live up to the hype that Friday Night Lights generated, but over a decade later, this mixtape still stands as one of J. Cole’s best projects. —Jordan Rose

2. The Off-Season

Released:  2021

As I’ve said before about The Off-Season , “the creative focus is the creative focus” on the album. At 36, Cole was staring at attrition in the face. He was at the stage when so many rap vets so-called “fell off” with projects that threw their fanbase for a loop. True to his ethos, he acknowledged the possibility of “The Fall Off” and got candid about it on a project full of some of his best rapping exhibitions in years. The 12-track project is a prolonged stream-of-consciousness, chock full of reflections, breakthroughs, and yes, admissions of fights with rap legends like Diddy on “let go my hand.” He also invited guests like Lil Baby (“pride is the devil”), 21 Savage (“my life”), and Bas (multiple tracks) to show up and represent. And Cam’ron helped introduce the ceremonies on “95 south,” but he mostly kept it a solo display of his reinvigorated pen over soulful production. The Off-Season is one of Cole’s most impressive, cohesive bodies of work, where he mostly forgoes sanctimony and finger-wagging to give us a thoughtful glimpse of his life and times. —Andre Gee

1. 2014 Forest Hills Drive

Released:  2014

Grappling with his new reality of being in La La Land, Cole decided to go home on his third studio album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive , and took listeners down memory lane to the critical moments in his life that shaped him. On his earlier projects, he was a young, scrappy MC probing the rap game and trying to find his place in it, before brazenly demanding the throne. But Forest Hills Drive is different—that’s where he began questioning whether the spoils of rap fame were worth the costs of gaining them.

Produced mainly by Cole, the album finds him reflecting on the dangers of the home he left on “A Tale of 2 Citiez,” while acknowledging on “‘03 Adolescence” how the city’s trappings swallow many of its most hopeful. He laments over wanting to “go back to Jermaine” and be himself again, not just his rap moniker on “GOMD,” and questions the validity of the rap industry and its award systems on “Fire Squad.” Even the heavily clowned “Wet Dreamz” bangs sonically and tells an innocent, albeit awkward, story of a young Jermaine trying to navigate his budding adolescence. Every song on the album has its own narrative purpose, building upon a larger theme of trying to get back home, wherever that home might be. It’s a concept album that constantly finds the Carolina rapper looking inwards, and using what he finds to understand the changing world around him. This story, coupled with elite lyricism and beat selection, makes for a project that reflects the ultimate price of becoming a champion. Cole made it, but at what cost?

While some might call 2014 Forest Hills Drive J. Cole’s best album because it went double platinum without any features, it’s deeper than that. Cole is really rapping here, tapping into his most mature pockets to that point. And despite the “no features” meme that paints him as an isolated solo artist, Cole acknowledges that he didn’t reach these heights alone, making sure to spend upwards of 10 minutes saying on “Note to Self” thanking the instrumentalist, Dreamville family, his mom, and everyone in between for helping him put this album together. 2014 Forest Hills Drive is honest, self-critical, and as well-crafted as concept albums come. It’s his best album (so far). —Jordan Rose

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J. Cole Brings Bars Back to the Barclays Center: Concert Review

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One of the most endearing attributes of J. Cole ’s career has always been his transparency. For over a decade, the Carolina rapper has amassed a legion of followers and a seat in the pantheon of hip-hop because he makes listeners feel like they know him through his music and his common-man lifestyle. This familiarity creates a sense of kinship within his fanbase, and as 19,000 filed into Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Saturday night (Oct. 1) for his sold-out Off-Season tour, it felt like a family reunion. Kicking off in Miami — with the help of special guests Drake and Future — the trek marks J. Cole’s return to live performing since his KOD Tour back in 2018. 21 Savage and burgeoning rapper Morray also join the Dreamville artist along with comedian and social media star Druski.

Raised in the same North Carolina hometown as Cole, Morray exploded on the rap scene this past year with his viral track “Quicksand,” and instantly engaged the crowd with his contagious energy, fun-loving spirit, and impressive vocal chops (worth noting: he Morray didn’t use a backtrack for any of his songs). His set was the perfect prelude for the high-level performing that the night would have in store, with 21 Savage following shortly after and performing fan-favorite songs like “10 Freaky Girls,” “X,” and “Knife Talk,” all while dressed in a metallic silver jumpsuit that matched the shining dagger that was erected at center stage. After 21’s set concluded and Druski delivered a hilarious MC routine, the crowd was primed and ready for the man of the hour to emerge.

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Staying true to the basketball theme present throughout the album, Cole peeled back the curtain yet again as we follow him from his green room to the stage like a star player taking to the court while he spits his song “Punchin’ The Clock” shrouded by darkness. Then, borrowing the 90s era Chicago Bulls’ intro music, a video montage of Cole’s highlights from his Rwandan professional basketball debut played before the curtain dropped. Wearing a Dreamville jersey in a throwback New Jersey Nets colorway, J. Cole was welcomed with deafening applause as he stood in front of an inclined basketball court and giant, flaming hoop that paid homage to the album’s cover art.

Popular on Variety

No such thing as a 𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 better than 𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖘…🎶🔥 @JColeNC pic.twitter.com/XErdJzvWFB — Barclays Center (@barclayscenter) October 3, 2021

The theme of the night was bars. After performing “95 South,” Cole took a moment to talk about how he wanted to really rap for the Brooklyn audience, especially considering New York City is where hip-hop originated. “I didn’t want to run from the bars, I wanted y’all to hear the bars in a location where n–s be scared to give the bars, and I’ll tell you why,” he explained from the stage. “When you come on tour, there be a lot of pressure. N–s want to hear the hits, and we got those too. But if it’s cool with y’all, and this is New York City, the birthplace of the bars, is it cool if I give y’all some bars on this show?” And Cole did just that, immediately breaking into “Applying Pressure” as the crowd roared and the hoop behind him burst into flames yet again.

As the show progressed, Cole jumped back and forth between the high wattage verbiage of “The Off-Season” and staples in his catalog like “Power Trip,” “Can’t Get Enough,” and “Mr. Nice Watch,” all backed by a stellar live band and vocalists. The quality of the show mirrored the energy of “The Off-Season,” his sixth studio album, with Cole delivering every line with precision and a tactical efficiency, while still creating intimate moments that harkened back to the days of his Dollar and a Dream tour nearly a decade prior. There was even a special moment when the rapper performed a deep cut from his “Friday Night Lights” mixtape, “Back To The Topic Freestyle,” a song he said only eight or nine people might know. Cole also tapped fellow Dreamville artist Bas to perform his new single “The Jackie” and “Down Bad” off the imprints compilation album “Revenge of the Dreamers 3.”

Before performing the emotional “Let Go My Hand,” Cole shared another moment of unvarnished honesty with those in attendance, saying he never wants to reach a point in his career where he doesn’t feel comfortable performing songs that mean a lot to him. “I don’t want to run away from the fear of giving y’all some shit that’s really from my heart,” he said. “I don’t want to run away from that feeling.” That feeling was shared by thousands who hummed for him when his voice began to crack. He would later close his set by performing his multi-platinum song “Middle Child.”

J. Cole’s Brooklyn stop for his Off-Season proved that his bars are still alive and well, if that was even still in question. It’s only right that such a lyrical showing happened in the Barclays Center, where the colossal shadows of Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls’ honorary jerseys hang in the rafters. As concert-goers exited the Barclays Center, one could still hear Cole’s lyrics being murmured by fans making their way home — the true meaning of resonance.

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J. Cole Announces The Off-Season Tour

With 21 Savage and Special Guest Morray On Select Dates

Tickets on sale starting friday, june 25th at 10am local time at dreamville.com.

WHO : J. Cole with 21 Savage and special guest Morray

WHAT : J. Cole with 21 Savage: The Off-Season Tour

Produced by Live Nation, the 17-city tour kicks off on September 24th at FTX Arena in Miami, FL making stops across the U.S. in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Chicago, Oakland and more before wrapping up in Los Angeles, CA at The Forum on October 21st.

TICKETS:  Tickets go on sale beginning Friday, June 25th at 10AM local time at dreamville.com .  

THE OFF-SEASON TOUR DATES:

* With 21 Savage |  ^ With Special Guest Morray

Fri Sep 24 – Miami, FL – FTX Arena*^

Sat Sep 25 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center*^

Mon Sep 27 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena^

Tue Sep 28 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum Complex*^

Wed Sep 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center*^

Fri Oct 01 – Boston, MA – TD Garden*^

Sat Oct 02 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center*^

Mon Oct 04 – Washington DC – Capital One Arena*^

Tue Oct 05 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena*^

Thu Oct 07 – Chicago, IL – United Center*^

Sun Oct 10 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center*^

Mon Oct 11 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Arena*^

Thu Oct 14 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena*^

Sat Oct 16 – Las Vegas – MGM Grand Garden Arena*^

Sun Oct 17 – Phoenix, AZ – Phoenix Suns Arena*^

Wed Oct 20 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena*^

Thu Oct 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum*^

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Cara Donatto | [email protected]

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Janelle Gibbs |  [email protected]

Derek Sherron | [email protected]

Chantz Brewer | [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

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About J. Cole

Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born January 28, 1985), better known by his stage name J. Cole, is an American hip hop recording artist, songwriter and record producer from Fayetteville, North Carolina. Cole first received recognition in 2007, following the release of his debut mixtape The Come Up.

Discography

2014 forest hills drive.

2014 Forest Hills Drive is the third studio album by American hip hop recording artist J. Cole; it was released on December 9, 2014, by Dreamville, Roc Nation and Columbia... Read More

Born Sinner

Born Sinner is the second studio album by American hip hop recording artist J. Cole. The album was released on June 18, 2013 in the United States under Dreamville, Roc... Read More

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Shaylah Brown is a TribLive reporter covering art, culture and communities of color. A New Jersey native, she joined the Trib in 2023. When she's not working, Shaylah dives into the worlds of art, wellness and the latest romance novels. She can be reached at [email protected] .

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Setlist Drake "Virginia Beach" "Teenage Fever" "Marvins Room" "Feel No Ways" "Headlines" "Nonstop" "Childs Play" "Know Yourself" "Controlla" "Passionfruit" "Rich Baby Daddy" "Jungle" "Energy" "Sicko Mode" "The motto" "HYFR (H%#ll Ya F#%$&*@g Right)" "Find Your Love" "First Person Shooter" "Evil Ways" "Pipe Down" "Nice for What" "In My feelings" "Jimmy Cooks" "Knife Talk" "Laugh Now Cry Later" J. Cole "Middle Child" "Wet Dreamz" "A Tale of 2 Citiez" "Power Trip" "A lot" "Love Yourz" "No Role Modelz" "In The Morning" "The Secret Recipe " "The London"

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