In April, it was revealed that J. Cole’s mentor, Jay-Z, would be teaming up with Justin Timberlake for a concert that would cost up to $250 per ticket. Many fans and artists, including Kid Rock, spoke out against the outrageously high ticket prices.
One week before the release of his sophomore album, Born Sinner, J. Cole decided to go in the opposite direction of Jay-Z and go on an mini-tour that would cost fans only $1 to attend.
Known as the “Dollar & A Dream” tour, the show kicked off in Miami and made its way to Atlanta on Wednesday. Offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, dedicated fans stood outside Center Stage for eight hours before being allowed to enter the venue around 8:30 p.m.
J. Cole took the stage an hour later opening with “Before I’m Gone.” He quickly noted that the show would be for fans who followed him before he released his debut, Cole Word: The Sideline Story. So instead of relying on popular hit songs, J. Cole ran threw a set that mostly featured songs from his mixtapes “The Come Up,” “The Warm Up,” and “Friday Night Lights.”
During his impromptu introduction to the show, two women showed their appreciation by throwing their bras on stage. J. Cole seemed amused by the gestures before breaking into “Too Deep for the Intro.” After the verse, he did his best Erykah Badu impression and sung her sampled hook, “Ooh hey, I’m trying to decide, which way to go, I think I made a wrong turn back there somewhere.”
But while he performed most of the catalog from his mixtapes, J. Cole also delved into mainstream songs such as “Nobody’s Perfect,” “Lights Please,” and “Hit it in the Morning.”
The most memorable moment of the show came during one of J. Cole’s attempts to take song requests from fans. One fan suggested “Dollar & A Dream” part. 1. J. Cole revealed that he hadn’t performed the song in years and may have forgotten some of the lyrics. He invited the fan on stage, gave him a mic and the two performed the song as the crowd cheered along.
It was a moment that signified J. Cole’s humble and blue collar approach to hip-hop. J. Cole closed his set with “Crooked Smile” and “Power Trip.”
J. Cole will release his sophomore album, Born Sinner, on June 18.
