Renowned hip-hop artist J. Cole ventures into podcasting with “Inevitable,” an innovative limited series that merges unreleased music with personal storytelling to provide an unprecedented look into his artistic journey.
Cole, born Jermaine Lamarr Cole, collaborates with manager Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad and creative director Scott Lazer on the project. The trio’s combined expertise offers listeners rare insights into the music industry’s complexities and Cole’s career decisions.
The series originated from a 2022 discovery session where Cole and his team uncovered forgotten demos and tracks during an eight-day exploration of his musical archives. These findings became the foundation for a narrative that chronicles his evolution from a promising talent to a hip-hop powerhouse.
Cole’s path to success began in Fayetteville, North Carolina, leading to his historic signing as Roc Nation’s first artist in 2009. His subsequent achievements include six platinum albums without featured artists, establishing his Dreamville Records label and launching the Dreamville Foundation for youth education.
The podcast format innovates through its chronological presentation of Cole’s musical development, incorporating both released and unreleased material. From his early performances at St. John’s University to his stadium tours, the series documents his artistic growth alongside his social activism and educational accomplishments.
As anticipation builds for his seventh studio album “The Fall-Off,” “Inevitable” provides context for understanding Cole’s creative philosophy, including his renowned “1,000 hours of practice” approach. His previous release, “The Off-Season,” topped the Billboard 200, continuing his streak of commercial success while maintaining artistic integrity.
The series promises to reshape artist storytelling by offering intimate access to Cole’s journey, from his early influences to his current status as a cultural icon, while exploring themes of perseverance, artistic growth and social responsibility.
