J. Cole Releases Cole World: The Sideline Story Album Cover

J. Cole’s latest #Any Given Sunday session last night continues to fuel the buzz surrounding 'Cole World: The Sideline Story', one of the most anticipated album releases remaining this year. Since becoming the first rapper to be signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label, a string of mixtapes, tour stints supporting Drake and Rihanna, and reports that Jay-Z will be featured on the album has only added to the countdown to September 27th, when the mostly self-produced album drops, and last night J. Cole gave his fans a little extra: the album’s cover art.

Photographed by Leann Mueller and art directed and designed by Alex Haldi for Bestest Asbestos,  there’s not much to speculate with the simple letterman jacket in a locker room scenario, but for a rapper who views himself as a bit of an underdog, September 27th might just be his day to step off of the sidelines. As Haldi described the cover’s look, it’s “strong, iconic, clean imagery. That’s the Cole brand.”

Anchored by the songs “Work Out,” “In the Morning,” and “Lights Please,” the Jay-Z protégé begins his 38-stop North American “Cole World…World “Tour” tomorrow in Vancouver, followed immediately by a stint in Europe. “I’ve been signed for two and a half years, it’s been a long journey for me,” the rapper explained to HipHopDX while still working in Jay-Z’s Rock the Mic Studio in Manhattan. However, the Jay-Z question still remains unanswered. “Your guess is as good as mine if we’re gonna get a Jay-Z verse.” However, if the “Work Out” video is any sign, the North Carolina native might not need the extra help. Rihanna doesn’t just stop by and join the party for everyone’s music video, as she recently did on the video shoot for Cole’s next single “Can’t Get Enough.” The final verdict will come next month, but it looks to be a bright future after all for J. Cole.