Jay-Z’s first rap artist on Roc Nation is ready to step into the hip-hop ring as a real contender. On Aug. 18, J. Cole channeled his pugilist spirit during a photo shoot for an upcoming cover of rolling out magazine.
Held at Keith Major’s studio in New York, the photo shoot featured two distinctive looks that captured J.Cole’s laid back style and his competitive drive to gain respect in hip-hop.
“The photo shoot was mad fun,” J.Cole said afterwards. “Anytime you see me in the wife beater, which never happens, there has to be something to it. But the concept was so strong that I couldn’t turn away. It was [Muhammad] Ali inspired. Both of the looks were dope. The shots were classic.”
J.Cole will release his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story on Sept 27. He is currently preparing to embark on a world tour later this month and he recently held a special preview for the album. Hip-hop veteran, Jay-Z, gave the album his stamp of approval by calling it a classic hip-hop record. –amir shaw
