1. We all know J. Cole’s real name is Jermaine Lamarr Cole. But did you know he was born in Frankfurt, Germany?
Source:Getty
2. J. Cole’s mom is German & his dad, who left a young Jermaine behind very early on in his life, is African-American.
Source:Getty
3. The “extent” of his “prepared food” repertoire goes only so far as cereal and PB&Js.
Source:Getty
4. J. Cole’s first rap name was Blaza. His second was Therapist.
Source:Getty
5. He considered himself the underdog. He’s quoted as saying: “I’ve always been an underdog. I feel like I beat the odds.”
Source:Getty
6. J. Cole moved his “Born Sinner” release date up from June 25th to June 18th to, specifically, compete with Kanye West’s “Yeezus.”
Source:Getty
7. J. Cole’s favorite New Yorker, dead or alive, is Tupac.
Source:Getty
8. J. Cole stands tall at 6’3″ – he’s one inch taller than his mentor, Jay Z.
Source:Getty
9. It was J. Cole’s mom who encouraged his production, buying her son a $1,300 ASR-X for Christmas so he could make beats at home.
Source:Getty
10. J. Cole has worked as a newspaper ad salesman and a bill collector, in addition to dressing as a kangaroo while working at a skating rink.
Source:Getty
11. He first attempted to work with Jay Z after college. In 2007, Hov dismissed the young rapper and the beat tape he was trying to shop around.
Source:Getty
12. That same night, J. Cole stood around and waited for Jay Z to arrive at the studio, for 3 hours, in the rain – only to get the cold shoulder from Hov.