J. Cole, born in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is an acclaimed American rapper and versatile artist. He burst onto the music scene with his debut mixtape, “The Come Up,” in 2007, igniting his path to stardom.
In 2009, he joined Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and released his first studio album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” which topped the US Billboard 200. His impressive journey includes a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album in 2015 and a series of chart-topping albums, such as “4 Your Eyez Only” and “The Off-Season.”
J. Cole’s talents extend to music production, collaborating with top artists like Kendrick Lamar and Janet Jackson. He is the visionary behind Dreamville Records and the Dreamville Foundation, both of which have a significant impact on the music industry.
Now, J. Cole is strategically investing his earnings, preparing for a life beyond music as he explores various business ventures. Here are four of his business ventures that reflect his genius, both within and beyond the music industry.
- Dreamville Records
Dreamville Records, co-founded by renowned rapper J. Cole and his manager, Ibrahim Hamad, stands as an influential American record label with distribution through Interscope Records. This powerhouse label, known for nurturing talents like Bas, Ari Lennox, Cozz, Omen, Lute, JID, EarthGang, and J. Cole himself, is currently affiliated with Interscope Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. To date, Dreamville Records has released nine albums, three of which have achieved platinum or higher certification by the RIAA.
- Dreamville Ventures
In 2020, J. Cole and Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad co-founded Dreamville Ventures, an American multi-disciplinary media company. This visionary venture serves as the parent company to Dreamville Studios, also launched in 2020. Leading the charge as president of this enterprise is Damien Scott, with Candace Rodney as the executive vice president, overseeing daily operations spanning music, TV, film, publishing, apparel, and live events.
- Tidal
J. Cole, along with a group of 15 other artists, is a minority shareholder in Tidal, the Norwegian-American music streaming service. Tidal is owned by notable figures such as Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey.
- Dreamville Foundation
Established in 2011 by J. Cole and his wife, Melissa Heholt, The Dreamville Foundation has a noble mission of empowering urban youth in Fayetteville, North Carolina. This non-profit organization is committed to philanthropic activities, including providing school supplies, nurturing young readers through a book club for young men, and sponsoring various community events. In 2014, J. Cole demonstrated his dedication by purchasing his childhood home to provide a haven for single mothers and their children. In 2018, the foundation launched a dedicated initiative to assist victims of Hurricane Florence in Fayetteville, NC, directing donated funds towards essential services like hot food stations, temporary housing options, food pantries, shelters, and local charities.
