Very few rappers have been able to reach the level of fame as hip-hop icon J. Cole. Since he exploded onto the music scene, the North Carolina star has been grinding on his craft and ranking in plenty of dollars at the same time. Now that Cole has dropped what’s expected t be his last album… ever, we’re diving into his wealth and everything it took to build a net worth that will leave you speechless.
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Born in January 1985, Jermaine Cole quickly developed a love for music. By the time he hit his 20s, Cole was dropping mixtapes which eventually caught the attention of rap legend Jay-Z. Ever since the “Love Yourz” rapper signed to Roc Nation in 2011, he’s been dropping heat and taking on some very interesting business hats.
In 2007– before ever meeting Jay-Z, Cole co-founded Dreamville Records, which later gave us artists like Ari Lennox and JID. It’s not easy running your own music label. Still, Cole and co-founder Ibrahim Hamad have expanded the Dreamville brand to merch, consistent tours and more importantly, amazing music.
Over the span of his career, Cole has dropped more than 13 projects– seven of which are studio albums. And every time he drops, you can bet he’s doing numbers. Just take his 2014 album, “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” which debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 353,000 to 354,000 copies just in its first week, according to reports.
Obviously, album sales contribute to Cole’s wealth, but as many artists have explained before, much of the money comes from live performances. J. Cole remains one of the highest-grossing touring artist and continues to sell out stadiums around the world. In 2017 alone, Cole took in more that $35 million in ticket sales, according to reports.
Outside of just making music and performing, Cole has also built a brand as a philanthropist. His Dreamville Foundation, which was established in 2011, provides resources and opportunities for urban youth. The “Middle Child” rapper has even donated all of the proceeds of his “Dollar and a Dream” shows directly to the organization.
In 2015, Cole announced he purchased his childhood home in Fayetteville– which was turned into his album cover in 2014– and had plans to turn it into a rent-free housing program for single mothers, according to ABC 11 News.
Clearly, Cole is all about giving back. That’s partially why the Dreamville festival began in 2018. The once annual festival took over Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park consistently until it ended last year.
With all this in mind, Cole has amassed a net worth of around $60 million, according to according to The Street. The rapper isn’t flashy with his money either. Known for keeping his private life private, Cole remains one of the most humble rappers in the modern era.
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