NEWS: J. COLE SIGNS J.I.D TO DREAMVILLE

J. COLE SIGNS J.I.D TO DREAMVILLE

A Dreamville star is born.

Atlanta rapper J.I.D of Spillage Village fame has signed with J. Cole’s label via Interscope Records. The announcement was made through “The Never Story,” a visual introduction to the rising star.

The two-minute clip begins with J.I.D talking about his old Pontiac, which he jokingly calls his Maybach. Filled with scratches and dents, the beat up ride has clearly become symbolic for the young MC.

“I drove it through college back and forth,” he says in the video. “I lived in it a little bit. It’s been through every phase of my life, from me not having anything at all to me having the little bit that I got now.”

J. Cole pops up and drives the car at the end of the clip. With J.I.D in the passenger seat, a song begins playing that brings the theme home. “Pushing the same piece of shit until I get me a Bentley,” he raps. “I told motherfuckers I was sick as a bitch / The dopest dope you smoke won’t get you a whip / Watch these ni**as flip the script with a flick of the wrist.”

To celebrate the announcement, Dreamville’s 25-year-old signee has dropped a video for “Never,” the lead single off his forthcoming project The Never Story.

New Dreamville artist J.I.D project "The Never Story" coming soon.

https://twitter.com/JIDsv
https://www.instagram.com/jidsv

iTunes: http://smarturl.it/JIDNever
Apple Music: http://smarturl.it/JIDNever.ap
Google Play: http://smarturl.it/JIDNever.gp
Amazon mp3: http://smarturl.it/JIDNever.amz
Spotify: http://smarturl.it/JIDNever.sp
Tidal: http://smarturl.it/Never.Td

http://smarturl.it/JIDNever.rt

Directed by Scott Lazer

(C) 2017 Dreamville/Interscope

TOURS: J. Cole Announces "2014 Forest Hills Drive" Tour [Update: Tour Dates Announced]

J. Cole Announces "2014 Forest Hills Drive" Tour [Update: Tour Dates Announced]

J. Cole will be heading on the road for a "2014 Forest Hills Drive" tour.

J. Cole's new album may be his most successful one yet, not only that, it could very well be his best project since his mixtape days. 2014 Forest Hills Drivehas already gone gold, and is quickly en route to achieving platinum certification, as it hovers near the 800k mark in total sales. 

With the album still in rotation and staying strong on the charts, the rapper has announced a tour to go along with it. This is probably the most promotion/marketing he's done for the album yet, as he dropped it quietly without any official singles (although "Apparently" seems to be the chosen song, as it received an official music video and is now climbing the Hot 100 singles chart).

Today the rapper revealed a flyer for the tour, which you can peep up top. Stay tuned for the full list of tour dates.

[Update: Tour Dates Announced]

After letting fans know he'd be heading on the road in support of his new album, Cole has now followed up with tour dates for both the U.S. and Europe.

Peep both tour flyers above to see if he's coming to a city near you. The tour kicks off at the beginning of March in Eugene, Oregon, and will run through the U.S. until April 7th. From there Cole heads to Switzerland on April 30th, and he'll remain overseas until May. For the U.S. tour he'll be joined by Bas, Cozz and Omen, and if you're in Europe you'll be lucky enough to catch Jhene Aiko, Pusha T, Bas, Cozz and Omen with Cole.

Edit: there is a third tour flyer, titled "Act 3," with dates that will run through out the summer. For this leg of the tour, Cole will bring along Big Sean, YG and Jeremih. Peep that up top.

INTERVIEWS: J Cole on Artists in The Hip Hop Industry & Getting to the Top

 J Cole on Artists in The Hip Hop Industry & Getting to the Top

J Cole says many artists aren't happy in the Music Biz and that he's not willing to sacrifice his friends & family for fame. He also discusses traveling the world via music and how thats effected his life. 

NEWS: J Cole’s ’2014 Forest Hills Drive’ Has Largest First Week Sales For A Hip-Hop Album In 2014

J Cole’s ’2014 Forest Hills Drive’ Has Largest First Week Sales For A Hip-Hop Album In 2014

Cole World. J Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive has had the largest first week sales for a hip-hop album in 2014, and it’s not even close. The album that previously held the crown was Rick Ross’s Mastermind, which moved 179,000 in its first week. Cole’s album doubled what Mastermind did in its first week, moving a whopping 361,000 units of his third studio album. In addition to having the largest first-week sales for a hip-hop album this year, 2014 Forest Hills Drive broke a Spotify record as well, according to his record label.

2014 FHD was streamed 15.7 million times in it's first week! Breaking One Direction Spotify record of 11.5 million. Congrats @JColeNC!

— Dreamville (@Dreamville) December 17, 2014

 2014 Forest Hills Drive has the highest selling debut week for a hip-hop album since Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP 2, which sold 792,000 in its first week. What makes the amount of sales particularly notable is the fact that no one knew about the album until about a month ago; there was little promotion and no radio singles. Congratulations to Cole and his fans.

There is only one other rap album in the Top 50 this week: Eminem’s Shady XV album, a compilation of his Shady Records artists, which grabbed the No. 39 slot by moving 16,406 copies.

Outside of the rap world, K. Michelle lands her second Top 10 album with Anybody Wanna Buy A Heart, which grabbed the No. 6 spot this week with 83,404 sales. Most interestingly, the album contains a song titled “Drake Would Love Me.” Mary J. Blige’s The London Sessions dropped to No. 23 this week after debuting at No. 9 last week. To round things out, Chris Brown’s X grabbed the No. 37 spot this week, moving 16,794 copies.

Despite the amazing sales that 2014 Forest Hills Drive put up this week, its reign as the highest-selling debut week for a hip-hop album may only last a week. Nicki Minaj’s The Pinkprint dropped this week, and the numbers will be out next week. The album will undoubtedly give Cole’s album a run for its money for the best debut week sales title. Do you think Nicki will take the crown for 2014? Hit the comments below.

1. J Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, 361,120

6. K. Michelle, Anybody Wanna Buy A Heart?, 83,404

23. Mary J. Blige, The London Sessions, 25,604

37. Chris Brown, X, 16,794

39. Eminem, Shady XV, 16,406

INTERVIEW: J. Cole – NPR Interview

J. Cole – NPR Interview

The day after his third album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, was released, J. Cole spoke to Microphone Check hosts Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Frannie Kelley. It was the morning before he performed “Be Free,” the song he made about Michael Brown, on Letterman. Cole said he was nervous about it, but apparently not so worried that he would change his clothes. He wore the same hoodie for this interview that he did on TV. The conversation –- Mic Check’s second with Cole — reveals a person newly comfortable with himself, his abilities and what needs to be done.