J. Cole fans had a collective meltdown last month when the rapper’s debut album abruptly vanished from streaming services. No one knew why Cole World: The Sideline Story was no longer available on major platforms or listed on Dreamville’s official website; however, label president Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad reassured everyone that the situation was only temporary.
He thankfully didn’t let fans down. About two weeks after The Sideline Story disappeared, Ib announced that the album was, once again, available to stream.
It was great news, no doubt, but many Twitter users began demanding an explanation, which Ib and Dreamville have yet to provide.
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The Sideline Story debuted at No. 1 in 2011, solidifying Cole as one of hip-hop's rising stars. The project boasted features by Drake, JAY-Z, Trey Songz, and Missy Elliott, and eventually received a platinum certification.
“Cole World: The Sideline Story, to me, it’s a culmination of a lot of work, lifelong work,” the rapper told Billboard in 2011. “To me, it represents all the songs that actually aren’t even on this album, whether it be mixtape stuff, stuff I’m saving for the next album. When I think of this, I think of all the stuff that I've done and all the things that I've been through just to get to this point.”
