Most Valuable Players: J. Cole's 10 Favorite Albums
By Insanul Ahmed | Sep 30, 2011 | 3:00 pm | Permalink
Interview by Insanul Ahmed; Photography by Matt Salacuse; Styling by Matthew Henson; Additional Credits.
This feature is a part of Complex's J. Cole week.
We've had a ton of fun during J. Cole Week here at Complex. We dropped our awesome digital cover, did the Making of his album, and even found time to shoot some hoops. But like all good things, it must come to an end. We figured since we've spent the last few days bumping Cole's debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story, what better way to end the week then to have Cole tell us about all the albums that inspired him. Although he didn't want to rank them, or give us the Complex's standard 25 favorite albums, Cole still offered us a glimpse into what his favorite artists. Click ahead and check it out.
As told to Insanul Ahmed (@Incilin)
Truth September 30th, 2011 at 03:22 PM
Tha Carter is your 2nd favorite album of all time huh? damn Jermaine, didn't want to but you earned it....check Big Ghost's review of Sideline Story: http://bigghostnahmean.blogspot.com/2011/09/big-ghost-review-for-cole-world.html
Amp October 3rd, 2011 at 11:24 PM
It CLEARLY says in the title that J.Cole was NOT giving ANY order or ranking to any of his selections...Come on man..read, SMH
Flip September 30th, 2011 at 03:35 PM
@Truth too be fair wayne's c1 & 2 were actually pretty good, he still overrated tho, Its a good list other that
pat September 30th, 2011 at 03:55 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZK92yo50gs any of you guys ever see that? him in the crowd of the movie Block Party. fucking crazy how life comes full circle. this dude deserves every record hes selling.
Jeru September 30th, 2011 at 04:03 PM
The man isnt going to remember his 10 favorite albums on the spot so i aint criticizing lol he already said he was a canibus,royce and em fan you crazy backpackers
jeremy September 30th, 2011 at 04:22 PM
@Truth in the beginning of the article they said it was in no particular order. Read the whole thing before you make a comment.
NYC/BROOKLYN© September 30th, 2011 at 04:24 PM
A. HOLE YOU PAPOOSED YOURSELF!!!©
Beatjunke September 30th, 2011 at 04:48 PM
I like that he admits he was young and went back and did his homework when it comes to Nas. It's the same with those of us that weren't around during the 50s, 60s, etc. I think he has great potential. I'm enjoying seeing his come up, I hope he keeps improving. As for the list, with him being young I wouldn't expect (beyond Nas/MJ) alot of Golden Era/80s LPs in there so I respect his picks on the spot.
jnew October 1st, 2011 at 04:52 PM
lmao, Bruh your resentless, I bet wen Cole sales over 200k first week your gonna go on a rampage or some shit.... When Cole World : The Sideline Story is the #1 album in the nation next week, How I feel?... VERY HAPPY BITCH!!!!
Jnew October 1st, 2011 at 04:54 PM
My Post wuz @NYC/Brooklyn by the way
carl October 1st, 2011 at 05:18 PM
dude if u think j cole is gonna sell over 200k first week...u are gonna be VERY dissapointed
jnew October 2nd, 2011 at 01:21 AM
Are you livin under a rock or somethin bruh, the predictions say Cole will have a #1 album selling around 240k to 250k... so I wuz actually bein modest by sayin 200k, it sold 115k on the day it was released, why don you google it or somethin bruh, or better yet heres a link http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671737/j-cole-cole-world-album.jhtml
jnew October 4th, 2011 at 08:35 PM
217k first week sales niiiiggguuuuhhhhhh!!!!1
Noelle October 21st, 2011 at 01:43 AM
Damn CARL how you feel?? Dumb as hell right?? Smh weak
$tarsky September 30th, 2011 at 04:50 PM
This List is Wack . . . Here's My Top 10: 1. 50 Cent - The Massacre 2. Jay-Z - The Black Album 3. Eminem - The Eminem Show 4. The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die 5. Ma$e - Harlem World 6. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders 7. Nas - It Was Written 8. Cam'Ron - Purple Haze 9. 2Pac - All Eyez On Me 10. Kanye West - Late Registration
thrillmatic September 30th, 2011 at 07:47 PM
You said cole's list was wack yet you got The Massacre as number 1??? damn cuz thats about as wack as it gets. yall gotta stop hating on cole for the wayne one, when youre 18-19 whatever is hot is very impressionable. and that album was good back in the day. top 10 (no order): the chronic, illmatic, blueprint, me against the world, ready to die, aquemini, it was written, college dropout, death certificate, enter the wu tang 36 chambers
$tarsky September 30th, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Listen to that Massacre Album Every Song On There Is Hot . . & Nobody's Hating on J. Cole, I said I Dont Like The List . . Stop Being A Groupie
lol September 30th, 2011 at 09:20 PM
the massacre? are you serious? that shit, harlem world and purple haze shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the other ones. stop trippin' your list is way cornier son.
$tarsky September 30th, 2011 at 09:35 PM
The Massacre, Harlem World & Purple Haze Weren't Hot? All of Them Albums Are Better Than That Cole World . . No Disrespect To J. Cole Ya'll Are Too Caught Up On the Politics Of Who made The Album. I Better U If Lil Wayne Made The Massacre With The Same Lyrics & All That Ya'll Would Be Suckin Cock
lmao September 30th, 2011 at 09:48 PM
no one compared those 3 albums to cole world, which is ok...the warm up was waaaaay better. i'm saying the 3 albums mentioned shouldn't be in the same building with the others on ur list fam. and i hate lil wayne. SDE shits all over Purple Haze which is filled with J Writer type flows and Get Rich shits on that wack ass Massacre album. My point: YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS CALLING SOMEONE'S LIST WACK WHEN YOU HAVE AN EVEN CORNIER LIST.
$tarsky September 30th, 2011 at 04:52 PM
That Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em by Rakim was Tight Too
kNOwONE September 30th, 2011 at 07:37 PM
No Particular order- 2pac - Me Against the World Biggie - Ready 2 die Nas - It was Written UGK - Ridin Dirty Dr. Dre - The Chronic Fugees - The Score Kanye - College Dropout Eminem - Marshall Mather LP Jay-z - Blueprint Outkast - Southernplayalistic Notable Mentions- Brother Ali - Undisputed Truth Jay-z - American Gangster Eightball & MJG - On Top of the World Bone - Eternal 1999 Snoop - Doggystyle Scarface - The Diary Goodie Mob - Still Standing 50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin(Not the Soundtrack) Outkast - ATLiens Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
$tarsky September 30th, 2011 at 07:55 PM
Yeah That Only Built For Cuban Linx IMO is The Best Wu Tang Solo Album