Ray Daniels claims J. Cole is a solid rapper but not an exceptional one, and his prominence largely stems from his effective branding.

[Fani Willis fan]

Cole don't really market like that, and he raps exceptional

 

[Kiyoshi-Dono]

Jermaine Cole has always been a solid rapper but those features he got busy on boosted his signal and image to something he never should’ve been
This was clear to him after he dropped that gotdamn me mixtape last year
Lyt and Soul showed you it was levels to that shyt and I firmly believe Jermaine went back and rewrote his shyt after getting dismantled like that on his own song
That shyt felt tacked on and overly trying
Even on Revenge of Dreamville he was getting washed by his artists
And you could tell he was out of his element
This isn’t a diss to Cole because I still enjoy his older cuts but yall lying to yall selves if you say he is even in the echelon of any rapper before him and Dot definitely showed he’s not in his atmosphere and never was

 

[tysigna]

He's cool, just doesn't have a great discography.

From this era, the only dude that showed he was all time great exceptional as far as music is Kendrick...he ain't just a great rapper, he's an exceptional musician and artist.

 

[Ukbrotha]

What marketing or branding?

 

[MaNu Minu]

only thing he got right is that Kendrick is #1

 

[VegetasHairline]

The bozo bots have arrived.

 

[verhonggen]

only thing he got right is that Kendrick is #1

Didn't except mikey to say that considering he has been a hater..but oh well, I guess sometimes he can put his bias aside and be objective

 

[RichYung]

Folks acting like they don’t understand what J.Cole’s “marketing & branding” is lol. Dude is a solid rapper, that’s relatable/likeable and gets the “man he’s so humble!!” Pass. That’s why anytime he’s criticized it’s “LEAVE HIM ALONE!!! He just wants to ride his bike and wear sweats!! He doesn’t bother anyone!”

 

[Harry B]

Cole don't really market like that, and he raps exceptional

Cole had major marketing, the best marketing is the ones you don't notice. Like Apple's products.

Being on the right features, mentioned by the right people, dropping the right songs at the right time and them getting spins by the right people, being able to do whatever you need when you need it, having access to any sample, legendary executives and artists as advisors, or really any person you want, big name on all the right festivals, opening for the biggest artists out and on.

Dude went from 0 to Kendrick, Drake, Jay, Lebron, Kanye, Beyonce, Rihanna and everyone else's best friend in 1 year. That was not cause everyone is just a friendly nice person who likes to help culturally snobby woke (black term) rappers.

But of course marketing is not everything, you need to do your part too. Which he did.

 

[King Sun]

 

[Hood Critic]

He's an above average rapper but he's not an exceptional song writer. That's why he shines when he's featured or there is a feature present.

 

[Jaguar93]

Cole can rap…his discography is shaky but he can rap

 

[Theo Penn]

Them ATL niccas saved Cole. Nicca was boring AF before he linked up with them. Their influence had him rhyming in pockets and hitting flows and cadences he never had in his repertoire before.

The OG Dreamville team down bad

 

[DaHNIC82]

This the same nikka that said fukking Bow Wow was bigger than JayZ

 

[Sccit]

THATS TRUE