J. Cole re-released his first mixtape, The Come Up, but whether as a thanks or an apology, is up to rap fans to decide. After exiting the highly publicized Drake and Kendrick Lamar rap beef, J. Cole left rap fans divided in their opinions. While some praised the rapper for his mature stance to avoid ruining friendships, others criticized his decision as cowardly, citing rap beef’s integral part in Hop-Hop culture. Nevertheless, Cole would focus on music instead, remaining resolute in his decision.
Re-Released Mixtape
Seventeen years after his debut mixtape, Cole officially released The Come Up Mixtape, Vol. 1, marking a milestone for his devoted fanbase. This mixtape contains 17 tracks, with fan-favorite songs like Dollar and a Dream, School Daze, and Simba. Moreover, J. Cole’s mixtape reminds fans why they fell in love with the rapper in the first place. Previously, this 17-track collection could only be found on unofficial channels, but with its release, fans can go back to the early days when J.Cole was a college graduate turned rapper, who’d become a global icon.
Initially, Cole released The Come Up as his debut mixtape on March 4, 2007. Hosted by DJ OnPoint, the mixtape was critically acclaimed, with over 500,000 streams and downloads, and 1.8 million views on DatPiff. With these numbers, it makes sense that Cole would release the mixtape on streaming platforms. On November 19th, 2024, the re-released mixtape was a welcome surprise to fans. However, the re-released version excludes several tracks, including I Do My Thing, Get It, Mighty Crazy, and Throw It Up.
Audio Series
Along with the re-release of his debut mixtape, J. Cole launched his new 10-episode audio series, Inevitable. In this intimate series, fans get a detailed look at Cole’s remarkable career. The audio series follows a young dreamer in Fayetteville, North Carolina, who becomes a world-renowned rapper and artist. Additionally, fans can see the process of Cole making his groundbreaking album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, which was released on December 9th of the same year.
In addition to J. Cole, his longtime manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad, and collaborator Scott Lazor hosted Inevitable and shot the series as a unique narrative. Specifically, Cole created the audio series to resemble a movie formed as a conversation. The first episode of Inevitable is ironically named The Come Up and accompanies the re-released mixtape as a companion piece. Ultimately, Inevitable takes a deep dive into the production behind the debut mixtape and how it led Cole’s career to superstardom.
To show enthusiasm for his Inevitable series, Cole expressed his hope that fans gain a deeper understanding of his career and artistry by supporting it. Likewise, the audio series offers new perspectives and provides behind-the-scenes footage. Through Inevitable, Cole hopes listeners walk away inspired to pursue their own dreams and not give up regardless of circumstances. The entire series is available on its official platform, with fans purchasing it for only $10. Furthermore, fans can catch new episodes every week.
Final Thoughts
Currently, Cole fans speculate that the rapper may release other mixtapes in his collection, such as Friday Night Lights and The Warm Up, over the next couple of weeks. These two mixtapes may be released during future episodes of Inevitable where they are discussed. Releasing his debut mixtape and audio series simultaneously led to Cole fans flooding various social media with excitement.
For long-time fans, the rapper’s journey deeply resonates, especially for those who’ve followed him since the early days. Besides the nostalgic music, fans can celebrate Cole’s remarkable career and contributions to the rap industry. Both old-school and new fans should check out both The Come Up and Inevitable series as they allow an up-close and unfiltered look into the artistry, career, and lifestyle of popular rapper J. Cole.
