Guest Blogger: Mike 1

Every year artist rise up and get there 15 minutes of fame then fall off the face of the earth and never have another hit again. This will not be the case for the new up and coming rap artist J. Cole. He was the first artists to sign with Jay-Z rap label, Roc Nation, which was created in 2008. Jermaine Cole, was born in North Carolina and graduated from St. Johns University. With the rap game filled with thugs, gangsters, and just downright idiots, J. Cole brings an intelligent word play element and completely new beats, 99% of them made by Cole himself, to the table. His first mixtape “The Come Up” was made independently and right away put him on the map when Jay-Z heard it. Right after he was featured on the track “A Star Is Born” on Jay-Z’s album the Blueprint 3 which sent his career to a new level. On his 1st hit “Who Dat” was a pretty big hit for an unknown artist and it’s because of lines like “The mind state of a winner. When you thinkin' 'bout summertime I'm thinkin' 'bout the winter, When you thinkin' 'bout breakfast, I'm heatin' up my dinner. I was plottin' this moment back when y'all was ridin' spinners.” These well thought out lyrics, catchy hooks and beats that blow your mind is what is going to sky rocket J. Cole to the top and quick. His mix tape “The Warm up” was dropped last year and its defiantly worth the download. The recurring theme of this mixtape is Cole explaining to people how he’s different, that he’s about to blow up, and his never ending love for all women. Almost every track sends electricity through your body and makes you think “Damn this is something special.” Problems is one song that stands on the warm up because the main theme of the song is that everyone is the same and you know this when he says “Hey your honor, is you kidding? How you sit above me?” 24hourhiphop.com reviewed Cole and said, “As the first artist signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label, North Carolina native J. Cole has a lot to prove.” I believe Cole has the skills to make it big and prove himself to everyone but I agree he has a lot to prove not only to his self but to his fans and Jay-Z for giving him a chance and being the first to sign him. His new mixtape “Friday Night Lights” drops Friday which is also when his show up in the cities is at club Karma. Without a doubt give his mixtape a look and if you like it take a drive up to the cities and show you support.