Hip Hop as an art form is still a yougin in comparison to its musical counterparts. It has transitioned through the societal shifts and has still been able to maintain its prominence through its gritty in your face west coast gangsta rap to the shiny suits of the late 90s.

Despite the continual formulas that industry insiders conjure up in order to calculate who will be hot and who will flop, every once in a while there is an artist who combines the lyrical capability and art form of the genres heavy weights and the humility and down to earthiness that makes them one of us…a fan.

J. Cole is that artist…with acclaimed mixtapes in his catalog, tours with some of the biggest artists in today’s music scene, and offering production talent to boost, Cole’s several year journey has reached a definitive apex with the release of his “debut” album,”Cole World: The Sideline Story”.

I am a fan of his music, a fan of his story, and fan of the fact that his music which relates to the average broke undergrad or graduate has found way to spurn the norm or the need for a top ten radio hit with a predictable hook and find its way to the top of the charts. This is a victory, this is a moment for all fans of the underdog and the unexpected champion.

Whether this is the beginning of historic career or just a fond moment in time no one can say,but fans of his music and of music in general can take this as a moment to celebrate and realize that an artist that offers great content and character will always get a chance to get off the sideline and into the game. Props to @jcolenc . 217k sold first week.

-Respect

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“Def Jam or Universal bought the brand. I think the ‘beef’ [with us and Jay-Z] was that Jay made it clear he didn’t want me or Biggs to be a part of it. That’s really where it was at. Now that he doesn’t work for Def Jam anymore, he doesn’t have the right to use the name. So there’s no reason for us not to use it. It’s there, and it’s a brand that’s not being used. So I was like, ‘I’ll take it.’ It always meant something to me.”

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Off Love Dinero & DJ Holiday’s America’s Most Wanted mixtape. Beaten, stabbed, shot, robbed and jailed.

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Seared Foie Gras With Quince & Cranberry. Get your grub on. Menu after the jump. Bon appétit.

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