Tag Archives: J. Cole

Inside Dreamville Festival: A Global Celebration Returns to North Carolina

Posted on by
Reply

By: Eddy “Precise” Lamarre

Sunset2_@SamShapiroMedia_SUN_06.04

Dreamville Festival, the brainchild of hip-hop icon J. Cole and his powerhouse label Dreamville, is gearing up for another epic year. Set to take over Raleigh’s scenic Dorothea Dix Park on April 5-6, 2025, the festival has become a defining moment in the music calendar, blending incredible performances with a celebration of culture and community.

After breaking records in 2024 with 100,000 attendees from across the United States and beyond, Dreamville Festival is primed to surpass expectations yet again. Presale tickets go live on December 11 at 9 a.m. EST, offering General Admission (GA), GA+, and VIP options. Early buyers can lock in the best rates, as prices are expected to climb closer to the event. If presales sell out, general ticket sales will follow.

This isn’t just another music festival; it’s an immersive experience. From live art installations and local food vendors to Dreamville’s iconic Ferris wheel—where attendees can take in breathtaking views of Raleigh’s skyline—every detail reflects a thoughtful curation of music, art, and community. The festival also shines a light on meaningful causes, with proceeds supporting the Dreamville Foundation and Dix Park Conservancy.

Dreamville Festival has become synonymous with economic and cultural impact. With an annual contribution of $145 million to Wake County’s economy, the event not only entertains but also bolsters local businesses and nonprofits. Vendors, artisans, and muralists transform the park into a vibrant hub of creativity, while Nonprofit Row provides a platform for community organizations to connect with festival-goers.

At its heart, the festival is a love letter to J. Cole’s home state of North Carolina and the global Dreamville family. It’s a chance to celebrate what makes the brand a cultural powerhouse while delivering two days of unforgettable music and camaraderie.

Whether you’re a loyal fan or new to the Dreamville universe, this event offers a unique blend of energy, connection, and creativity. Mark your calendars and set your alarms—this is a moment you won’t want to miss.

Is Gang Starr’s latest project ‘One of the Best Yet’?

Posted on by
1

The legendary hip-hop group Gang Starr released One of the Best Yet and it is a welcome addition to an overall underwhelming 2019 when it comes to new rap music. DJ Premier is the only surviving member of Gang Starr. Keith Edward Elam also known as GURU (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) died on April 10, 2010. This project comes 16 years after their last official release The Ownerz.

DJ Premier puts his best foot forward when paring Guru’s posthumous verses with current features. Before the official project was released, Dj Premier dropped the single “Family and Loyalty” featuring J. Cole. Guru’s voice rings prominently on the song and J. Cole steps in with possibly one of the best features of the year as he raps “J. Cole..Who’d a thought I woulda been rhyming with ghosts Guru flows forever like a diamond and most.. could never afford the precious jewels.. that’s precisely why I’m blessing you.. with clear cut messages.. I’m destined to.. invest in urban sections where depression rules.”

One of the Best Yet provides the listener with the raw boom bap DJ Premier production as a result Guru’s lyricism still cuts through even in these times. On “Business or Art” featuring Talib Kweli, Guru raps “Heres one for Spin, Billboard and Rollingstone hip-hop is so organic it will grow on its own, we watch em throw money at it with clout and power, but after a while things faded out and went sour.” Many would say that this sour space that Guru is speaking of is where we are right now. This is exactly why One of the Best Yet is so refreshing because it’s just real rap with no filler or gimmicks.

The standout songs on this album are “Lights Out (feat. M.O.P.)” “Hit Man (feat. Q Tip)” “Family and Loyalty (feat. J. Cole)” and “Get Together (feat. Ne-Yo & Nitty Scott)

Have you heard One of the Best Yet? What do you think?

Check out the video for “Family and Loyalty” off of the One of the Best Yet below

Listen to/Buy Speak Life by Precise below.

J Cole makes better music than you – get over it

Posted on by
Reply

J. Cole at AAHH! Fest in Chicago – Photo Credit: Eddy “Precise” Lamarre


So 4 Your Eyez Only dropped recently and its a great album. However if you let the internet inform you, many are saying it’s a snorgasm, boring, and a list of other clever well crafted lines. I am by no means a J. Cole stan. I am an artist and because of this I can tell when an artist is cutting corners or putting their heart into something. 4 Your Eyez Only is a project that is well thought out, lyrical and the production is on point. If you feel otherwise you are just mad that his work garners the attention that yours doesn’t. 
The world we live in now might as well be a big barrel of crabs who will easily speak an ill word towards anything that doesn’t have anything to do with them. I hear most of the ill will coming from fellow artists or those who claim to be and have never put out a piece of work. They don’t even know what it takes to title a song or even create a concept for an album. Stop being such a damn hater and give credit where it is due. It’s easy to be a critic. You can say I don’t like or I like it with out any informed viewpoint. 

The way music is consumed these days has created this army of haters. They can’t even sit still long enough to listen to a 51 minute concept album and allow for it to work on their senses. Music fans now just want to be fed what they want, and they don’t even know what they want. 

Here is my suggestion to you. Go get a bunch of your “beat making” friends and gather all your rhymes that all end with the word nigga and go make your masterpiece for the world. Till then keep your not doing nothing azz opinion to yourself. 

Buy/Listen to “That Ol’Boom Bap’ ft Precise produced by Dj Tekwun

J. Cole grows up with ‘4 Your Eyez Only’

Posted on by
1

J. Cole’s  4 Your Eyez Only is a love letter to Hip Hop. The interesting thing about J Cole is that their is a segment of the population who loves him and another who feels like he is cool and not living up to his potential. I can say with utmost certainty that J. Cole is easily one of the most talented and honest artists that we have come across in many years. 

This recent project has been in the making for the past 2 years. At first listen the music sort of blended into my surroundings. I knew it was dope but I wasn’t tuned in. When I came back to it I was focused and what I found was that this is not an album of thrown together songs. It has a common theme of redemption, forgiveness and love. Now the average Hip Hop fan was probably not checking for that after the release of “False Prophets” and “Everybody dies”, two songs released before the the album was dropped. Interestingly neither song is on the album. Cole hit his fans with the old one two. He dropped some heat for them and then provided a project full of thought and substance. 

This is a project from an emcee who has matured with every release. There are a few standout songs. “Foldin Clothes” is a song where Cole laments on his love for his significant other and wants to show his appreciation “If I could make life easier , the way you do mine save you some time alleviate a bit of stress from your mind help you relax let you recline.” “She’s Mine part 2” is the most personal and emotional of all the songs from the project. It’s a song about his daughter. He speaks on his love for her. “Reminisce when you came out the womb tears of joy I think fill up the room you are now the reason that I fight I ain’t never did nothin this right tinny whole life.” Even as he shares this deep emotion he still touches on the economic struggles of Black people on Black Friday. 

4 Your Eyez Only touches minds and souls in a way that autotune never could. Excellent work Mr. Cole. 

Buy/Listen to “That Ol’Boom Bap’ ft Precise produced by Dj Tekwun