Jermaine Lamarr Cole, better known in short form as simply J. Cole, has worked his way into prominence in the hip-hop industry. Following smash albums Cole World: The Sideline Story (“Work Out” and “Can’t Get Enough”) and Born Sinner (“Power Trip” and “Crooked Smile”), J. Cole took it in a more personal direction with his third album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive. This week, he stops in Vegas on his world tour supporting that album, with opening acts Big Sean, YG and Jeremih.
Released late last year, 2014 Forest Hills Drive is the first hip-hop album since 1989 to go platinum without a single guest featured. It even scored J. Cole the win for top rap album at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards, in which he beat out Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Drake and Iggy Azalea. The album takes fans back in time to J. Cole’s early life. In fact, 2014 Forest Hills Drive is the actual address of his childhood home in Fayetteville, N.C. Drawing from his personal experiences, J. Cole creates a catalog of introspective songs (“03’ Adolescence,” “A Tale of 2 Citiez,” “Apparently,” “Love Yourz” and “Wet Dreamz”) that tell the story of his younger self growing and transitioning into the man and mainstream artist that he is today.
Planet Hollywood Resort, 8 p.m. July 18, $40.75-$200 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
