EMCEE OF THE WEEK - J. COLE

The more and more I've been listenin' to J. Cole, the more and more I think he's gonna be what I hoped Kanye West would have been. He's total package, like Lex Luger (shout to NWO and Monday nights in the '90s). He produces the majority of the beats he spits on, he writes his own shit, he has a very precise flow, and his delivery is charismatic, hard and smooth all at the same time. Pause, let me stop kissing his ass now. This mutha fucka is a deep breath of crisp, fresh air from the Fijian islands (shout to my homey Drew). He says it himself on his freestyle over the "I Really Mean It" instrumental: "They say I'm the down south Nas, the east coast Pac, the Carolina Andre, the Fayetnam Kanye... I'm the light skinned Jesus." And Jesus Christ, it's about time some of the new rookie talent stepped up and impressed us.

As I've reported previously, J. Cole is the first artist to be signed to Jay-Z's new RocNation label. He's been touring with Jay recently and has also released two mixtapes in the last couple years titled "The Come Up" and "The Warm Up." These mixtapes are more like albums where he shits on his competition. (CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BOTH MIXTAPES)

What's really good to discover is that he's from Fayetteville, North Carolina. I feel like Hip Hop needs more quality rhymers from the south. Most rappers from this region either have no skill or they simply have no intelligence. I hate to say it, but I did. J. Cole absolutely dismantles this southern rapper stigma in the Hip Hop game. He went to St. John's University so he could live in the heart of Hip Hop and he graduated Magna Cum Laude off an academic scholarship. His intelligence shows in his writing ability. Don't get it twisted - he ain't no nerd on the mic, but he does know how to construct a rhyme, a verse, and a full song with story telling capabilities that rival most of the all time greats.

He's also very witty with his rhymes: "I go hard like I just seen some nipples on Beyonce, no disrespect to Hov but if I didn't I'd be beyond gay." Now that takes a certain kinda nut sack to spit about the wife of the man who owns you. Nonetheless, it's good shit.

According to his bio, J. Cole's mission is "to wake up a dormant industry and cement his name in this game. But more than that, with his debut studio album currently in production, he hopes to change the tide of current rap music, swaying it in a more insightful, meaningful and passionate direction."

I wish him all the luck in the world, 'cause the type of Hip Hop he creates is exactly what the mainstream Hip Hop culture needs at this very moment. We'll be hearing more from J. Cole this year and I'll make sure to keep y'all posted on all new shit.

FOLLOW J. COLE ON TWITTER AT: www.Twitter.com/JColeNC
CHECK HIS OFFICIAL SITE AT: http://www.jcolemusic.com/
VISIT HIS OFFICIAL MYSPACE AT: http://www.myspace.com/jcole

IF YOU DIDN'T READ THE POST, AT LEAST PEEP THIS VIDEO!!! J. COLE IS A BEAST ON THIS JOINT!!!