who is j cole?
For the cricketer, see J. Cole (Hampshire cricketer). For the English footballer, see Joe Cole. Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born January 28, 1985), better known by his stage name J. Cole, is an American hip hop recording artist and record producer. Raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape, The Come Up, in early 2007.