J. Cole

     J. Cole speaks about his life growing up and how he wants to be a positive role model for young kids so they do not go through what he did. “Through his descriptions of the hope, struggle, and perseverance he experienced growing up in Fayetteville, North Carolina to making it big, we can all empathize” (Pillai). J. Cole spoke out about how he grew up a “screw up” in "03’ Adolescence," where he would constantly speak about his dangerous path he would follow to fit in. He wishes for no one to follow that path, which is why he has embedded himself as a role model to follow. “What gives Cole the edge in the rap game is how he refuses to conform to a stereotype, albeit a racial one or the gangster rapper stereotype – Cole provides his listeners with content that is rich in role models and good messages” (LSU). Cole, knowing he has a platform, uses it for good. He used his influence to create a non profit charity to encourage kids of his home town to stay in school and he provides them with supplies consistently. The foundation is known as the Dreamville Foundation. Cole named it this due to him being the first artist signed by Jay-Z. Cole would go on to sign many more artists, and they became known as Dreamville Records. Cole would go onto produce albums with this group and built a strong reputation for everyone in the group. “In the coming months, Dreamville’s Bas, Lute, J.I.D., and EarthGang would find themselves touring their music all over the world before joining the other four members of the squad (Ari Lennox, Omen, Cozz and Cole) to grace the spring cover of XXL Magazine.” (BET). This quote shows that Dreamville records, which Cole has a huge role in, has helped multiple aspiring artists to achieve their dream of touring the country and having fans that listen to their music. 

         J. Cole had an extremely difficult childhood that he had to get through before he could become the artist that he is today. His struggles are shown when Mitchell Heckmann of The Daily Fandom states “The violence that Cole witnessed and his proximity to the ‘terrorists’ that traumatized him allowed him to reflect and concentrate on his own craft” (Heckmann). Part of the reason J. Cole is so popular today is because of his amazing story telling ability and how he isn’t afraid to tell people about the challenges he faced growing up in Fayetteville, one of the most crime-ridden cities in all of America. While living in Fayetteville, the chances of being a victim to a violent or property crime is one in twenty six (Scout). This shows that at any moment, Cole’s life could have been threatened, or even ended. He had to live with the knowledge of how dangerous his town was throughout his entire time growing up, which would definitely have a huge mental effect on a child or teenager.