J Cole or Jay-Z  NYT

J Cole or Jay-Z  NYT

Jermaine Cole's meteoric rise to superstardom is one of the most intriguing stories in hip-hop. A rapper with big aspirations, he's choosing an unconventional path: prioritizing inner fulfillment over immediate fame or success.

This week's Popcast will explore Cole's music career and the longstanding connection between hip-hop and basketball - from rappers with hoop dreams to players with rap aspirations.

Jermaine Cole

Jermaine Cole is a North Carolina-based rapper and music producer who has released five studio albums as well as two mixtapes. He has earned numerous accolades, such as Grammys and BET Hip-Hop Awards; additionally, his work has been featured in numerous films and television shows.

Cole is not only an accomplished rapper, but also a successful producer and record label head. His creative yet honest lyrics often express his views on various topics.

Cole began his career as a bill collector but quickly discovered his passion for music and pursued it relentlessly. He began writing his own material and eventually released mixtapes; in 2007, Cole signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation label and released his debut mixtape The Come Up the following year.

After this, Cole released his second mixtape, The Warm Up, and Jay-Z was delighted. The track "Lights Please" became a huge hit, leading to Jay-Z signing Cole to his Roc Nation label in 2009.

At 16, Cole moved to New York City with hopes of making a name for himself. He attended St. John's University but soon realized that graduating wasn't in his plans; instead, he continued honing his craft as an artist while staying put in the city.

While living in New York, he began writing songs that would help him gain notoriety. He began by rapping about his life in Fayetteville, North Carolina and eventually evolved into the more urban style of rap for which he is now renowned.

His music encompasses a range of moods, from upbeat tracks to more serious songs. He often raps about politics and social issues and has an incredible knack for telling stories that will move listeners' hearts.

"Apparently" is one of John Legend's most personal songs and serves as a prime example of his ability to convey an intimate message through both rhyming and musical elements. Its catchy chorus has made it a favorite among his fans, earning it nominations for Grammy awards as well.

Jay-Z

Jay-Z (aka Shawn Carter) was raised in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects, where he was exposed to drugs and crime. However, music provided him with an escape from this dangerous environment; at a young age he began rapping for fun.

In the 1990s, he released a string of successful albums and hit singles. His debut album, Reasonable Doubt (1996), cemented him as an influential figure within hip-hop. Additionally, he produced top-selling albums for other artists like Kanye West and Beyonce.

Over time, Jay-Z has achieved fame as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He founded Rocawear clothing line and owns a stake in the New York Nets of the NBA. Additionally, he founded a production company and owns a film studio.

He made a name for himself as an accomplished producer, signing several prominent hip-hop artists to his label Def Jam Recordings. Additionally, he co-founded the entertainment conglomerate Roc Nation which signed artists such as Rihanna and Shakira.

The two-time Grammy winner has amassed an immense fortune through his successful music career and businesses. Perhaps most notably, Armand de Brignac - his own champagne brand - is one of his most successful ventures.

Jay-Z is widely recognized for his contribution to modern hip-hop culture. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, he is an inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

He has collaborated with other musicians such as Alicia Keys and Kanye West. To date, he has released 13 solo albums and is married to singer Beyonce.

His music career has earned him numerous awards and honors, such as 24 Grammys, a Primetime Emmy Award, and Billboard Music Award. Additionally, he has been nominated for numerous American Music Awards.

Jay-Z has endured personal difficulties and difficulties in his marriage despite the success of his music. In 2016, Beyonce accused him of infidelity and the rapper addressed this in his album 4:44.

In the summer of 2017, Jay-Z and Beyonce gave fans another reason to be thrilled with the release of their joint album, Everything Is Love. Streamed exclusively on Jay-Z's Tidal platform, the album was an incredibly honest document dealing with racism, politics, and more.

Beyonce

Beyonce was raised in Houston, Texas during the 1990s. Her family was involved in various music careers, including Girls Tyme - a group that competed on "Star Search."

After being rejected from her show and unable to secure an acting job, Beyonce formed Destiny's Child (originally Girl's Tyme) with sisters Solange and Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. The band signed a record contract with Columbia Records, leading to their debut album "Destined for Success", becoming an instant hit - earning two Grammy awards and selling millions of copies worldwide.

Beyonce began experimenting with her musical style while still in the group, becoming more interested in hip-hop and R&B music. Her first solo album, Dangerously in Love (released 2003) combined these genres and earned her five Grammy Awards.

Her second album, Survivor, followed in 2004 and her final group album Destiny Fulfilled was released in 2006. Unfortunately, the group disbanded after this last release.

Beyonce is the offspring of Mathew Knowles and Tina Knowles-Lawson, who were married in 1997. Additionally, she's stepdaughter to rapper Shawn Corey Carter (better known by his stage name Jay-Z).

At nine years old, Beyonce formed a band with her sisters and friends that became known as Destiny's Child. On Star Search television talent show, they earned three stars from judges for their performance.

She achieved great success as a solo artist during the early 2000s, selling millions of albums and earning five Grammy Awards. She collaborated with various producers such as Missy Elliott and Jay-Z; her first single "Daughter" became an instant hit in 2001, ceding her a place of recognition among pop music lovers everywhere.

Beyonce has earned a variety of honors, including being named the best-selling female musician ever by Billboard magazine in 2010. Additionally, she was the first Black woman to appear on Vogue's cover and five times featured on the New York Times cover.

Her third album, Lemonade, was an enormous success that earned her two Grammy awards and became the subject of an HBO special. Directed by several different filmmakers, the hour-long film focused on her struggles with betrayal and perseverance. Her performance at Coachella that year became a major cultural landmark that would later be immortalized in both Netflix documentary form and live album form.

The New York Times

The New York Times is the most influential newspaper in America and boasts one of the broadest international coverages of any major American news organization. It takes its name from Manhattan's famed Grand Central Terminal, making it widely regarded as one of the world's greatest publications.

In addition to its main publication, The Times has a variety of other publications. For instance, The New York Times Book Review reviews current books; there's also an area dedicated to music and a magazine for children.

In addition to journalism, The New York Times also publishes opinion pieces and features stories on celebrities and other public figures. It has earned numerous awards for its work, including the Pulitzer Prize for Journalism.

The New York Times Company owns and operates 15 other prestigious newspapers around the world, making it one of the oldest and most esteemed publications worldwide.

The New York Times was the first American newspaper to print on Sunday and has established itself as one of the world's premier news outlets. Yet despite its prominence, The New York Times has often been criticized for its lack of consistency and bias.

For instance, The Times' coverage of a story about a bodega worker being assaulted by her customer's boyfriend is biased and inaccurate; it falsely reports that the worker grabbed chips out of a child's hand which is simply not true.

In addition to reporting on a range of topics, The New York Times also has a section called "Sunday Book Review," which offers reviews of new books. This section is particularly popular with young readers.

The New York Times is an excellent news source and its editorial staff holds great regard. However, it can be challenging to navigate the paper and its articles.

Thankfully, The New York Times has created an app that lets readers read their paper on any device and access articles from past issues. This service is free to all subscribers and can be downloaded onto computers or mobile devices using PressReader - an online service which enables offline reading of papers as well as saving articles for later reference. Furthermore, The app works across iOS and Android devices with auto-download enabled by The New York Times so your issue will always be ready when you need it.