j-cole-2014-forest-hills-drive-mainJ. Cole is undoubtedly one of the premier Hip-Hop stars of the 2010s. Even before the new decade came in, Cole’s The Warm Up topped year-end lists, and the Fayetteville, North Carolina MC/producer was quickly thrown into a class alongside Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Wale.

It’s taken five years, but today brings confirmation that Jermaine Cole can now add platinum album to his resumé. The RIAA announced the good news today (April 1). Perhaps curiously, the nod came from last year’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive, an album that released with dwarfed promotion, publicity, or marketing—and no features, as compared to his previous two Roc Nation efforts (2011’s Cole World: A Sideline Story and 2013’s Born Sinner, both of which are gold-certified). However, what F.H.D. did not lack was acclaim. More than an hour long, the competitive and nostalgic effort won over fans, new and old, and was a strong contender in the year that was.

With that said, J. Cole has Kendrick Lamar matched, and Wale, Big Sean, ScHoolboy Q, Mac Miller all beat.

Rick Ross, Common, Kurupt, and Beanie Sigel have never had a platinum solo album.

Is J. Cole proving he’s in a different class?

-Via AFH

About The Author

Bianca Alysse is a creatively driven Bronx-born writer and editor. Before becoming The Knockturnal‘s music editor she served as Latina‘s creative coordinator and was a contributor at Billboard. The Boricua scribe has a lengthy resume in the music industry and has penned for Universal Music Publishing Group, Epic Records, G.O.O.D. Music, Compound Entertainment, Artistry & Récords, and Arcade Creative Group. Her work has been seen on platforms like VIBE, mitú, TIDAL, Remezcla, and behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week. As an independent contractor, she has written for Sony Music Entertainment’s global business affairs department, Warner Music Group, and currently Roc Nation.

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