J. Cole

Solo Artist

Photo: HOTSPOTATL · CC BY 3.0
Active 2007-present
Origin Fayetteville, North Carolina
Albums 7
Tracks 118
Most frequent collaborator Tyler Williams · 20 tracks
Genres Hip HopConscious Hip HopEast Coast Hip Hop
Complete Artist
99%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 117 of 118 tracks

Does J. Cole write his own songs?

Yes, and he produces most of them too. J. Cole is credited on about 99% of his catalogue, writing every lyric himself and holding a production credit on nearly every track. Songs like 'No Role Modelz,' 'Love Yourz,' and 'ATM' are his in both the words and the beat, which is rare even among rappers who write their own verses.

By the Numbers

7
Studio Albums
118
Tracks Credited
99%
Self-Written
19
Years Active
377
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 117 / 118 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 118 tracks: how many J. Cole wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

J. Cole has a writing credit99%
12%
87%
1%
Sole author14tracks12%
Co-written103tracks87%
Outside writers1tracks1%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
J. Cole's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 118 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)99%
Composer (music)99%
Producer78%
Performer81%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

J. Cole's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 99%
100%
95%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
2011Cole World: The Sideline Story
2013Born Sinner
20142014 Forest Hills Drive
20164 Your Eyez Only
2018KOD
2021The Off-Season
2026The Fall-Off
Early · 98% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

99%
2010s
Cole World: The Sideline Story, Born Sinner +3 more
100%
2020s
The Off-Season, The Fall-Off

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where J. Cole sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

J. Cole
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

EXO8%
Salt-N-Pepa35%
Carrie Underwood43%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Kesha77%
Chris Brown91%
99%J. Cole
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Work Out
Cole World: The Sideline Story
Written by J. Cole, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, Kanye Omari West, Bosco Kante, Elliot Wolff, John Roger Stephens, Miri Ben-Ari, Sukmeke Rainey
Co-wrote
Power Trip
Born Sinner
Written by J. Cole, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, Hubert Laws
Co-wrote
Crooked Smile
Born Sinner
Written by J. Cole, Anthony Parrino, Rich Harrison, Meleni Smith, Jermaine Lamarr Cole
Co-wrote
She Knows
Born Sinner
Written by J. Cole, Ryan Mattos, Madeline McKenna, Jermaine Lamarr Cole
Co-wrote
Apparently
2014 Forest Hills Drive
Written by J. Cole, Filippo Trecca, Damany Coleman, Jeff Gitelman, Jermaine Lamarr Cole
Co-wrote
Wet Dreamz
2014 Forest Hills Drive
Written by J. Cole, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, Charles Simmons, Roy Hammond
Co-wrote
No Role Modelz
2014 Forest Hills Drive
Written by J. Cole, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, Darius Barnes, Marvin Whitemon, Paul Beauregard, Jordan Houston, Tenina Stevens, Earl Steven Stevens, Dannell Stevens, Brandt Jones
Co-wrote
Deja Vu
4 Your Eyez Only
Written by J. Cole, Vinylz, Boi-1da, Tyler Bryant, Javalyn Hall, Michael Johnson, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, Anderson Hernandez, Matthew Samuels
Co-wrote
Neighbors
4 Your Eyez Only
Written by J. Cole, Anthony Parrino, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, Ronald Lee Foster
Co-wrote
ATM
KOD
Written by J. Cole, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, Nicholas Brodszky, Samuel Cohen
Co-wrote
Kevin's Heart
KOD
Written by J. Cole, Tyler Williams, Mark Pellizzer, Jermaine Lamarr Cole
Co-wrote
KOD
KOD
Written by J. Cole, Jermaine Lamarr Cole
Wrote it
My Life
The Off-Season
Written by J. Cole, Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, Jacob Dutton, Kelvin Wooten, David Carey Styles, Troy Jamerson, Lamont Dorrell, Walter McDaniel, Wendell Baker, Alonzo Bates III, Steve Glenn, Michael Smith, Jermaine Lamarr Cole
Co-wrote
Amari
The Off-Season
Written by J. Cole, Timothy Mosley, Tim Friedrich, Tyler Williams, Jermaine Lamarr Cole
Co-wrote
Pride Is the Devil
The Off-Season
Written by J. Cole, Lil Baby, Tyler Williams, Adam Daniel, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, Dominique Armani Jones
Co-wrote
Two Six
The Fall-Off
Written by J. Cole, Tyler Williams, Damon Coleman, Ron Gilmore Jr., Donald Pears II, Jermaine Lamarr Cole
Co-wrote

Discography 7 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

J. Cole118 tracks
TW20Tyler Williams, 20 tracks T20T-Minus, 20 tracks 12Anthony Parrino, 12 tracks KW12Kelvin Wooten, 12 tracks E11Elite, 11 tracks W11Wu10, 11 tracks RG10Ron Gilmore, 10 tracks RG9Ronald Gilmore, 9 tracks MW9Margaux Whitney, 9 tracks AH8Abbas Hamad, 8 tracks JE7Jasmine Easterly, 7 tracks MH7Michael Holmes, 7 tracks D7DZL, 7 tracks SB7Steve Bilodeau, 7 tracks B5Bas, 5 tracks V5Vinylz, 5 tracks AH4Anderson Hernandez, 4 tracks B4Boi-1da, 4 tracks MS4Matthew Samuels, 4 tracks DC4Damon Coleman, 4 tracks O4Omen, 4 tracks IH4Ibrahim Hamad, 4 tracks AL3André Lauren Benjamin, 3 tracks on OutKast's page AA3Antwan André Patton, 3 tracks on OutKast's page CG3Christopher George Latore Wallace, 3 tracks JD3Jacob Dutton, 3 tracks JO3Jake One, 3 tracks RG3Ron Gilmore Jr., 3 tracks F3FnZ, 3 tracks CF2Canei Finch, 2 tracks SJ2Sean John Combs, 2 tracks JO2Jean-Claude Olivier, 2 tracks CB2Cedric Brown, 2 tracks RL2Ronald Lee Foster, 2 tracks JD2Juro Davis, 2 tracks BM2Byron McCane, 2 tracks KB2Krayzie Bone, 2 tracks on Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's page JS2Jonathan Smith, 2 tracks AW2Andrew Wansel, 2 tracks PW2Pop Wansel, 2 tracks C2Cardiak, 2 tracks DD2DJ Dahi, 2 tracks FD2Frank Dukes, 2 tracks JP2Jamil Pierre, 2 tracks BW2Bill Withers, 2 tracks D2Deputy, 2 tracks C2Chargaux, 2 tracks JD2James Dewitt Yancey, 2 tracks B2BLVK, 2 tracks SC2Scotty Coleman, 2 tracks MB2Maneesh Bidaye, 2 tracks M2Maneesh, 2 tracks TF2Tim Friedrich, 2 tracks S2Sucuki, 2 tracks DC2David Carey Styles, 2 tracks DP2Donte Perkins, 2 tracks ML2Mario Luciano Dragoi, 2 tracks TB2Tae Beast, 2 tracks ML2Mario Luciano, 2 tracks F2Future, 2 tracks NJ2Nima Jahanbin, 2 tracks AG2Aaron Goldstein, 2 tracks JT2JÅ«n Tetra & Gldy Jr, 2 tracks LM2Luca Mauti, 2 tracks DL2David Linaburg, 2 tracks AA2Abdul Aziz Dieng, 2 tracks A2AzizTheShake, 2 tracks HJ1Hustle Just, 1 track JW1Jovan Woods, 1 track C1Capsvl, 1 track TS1Trey Songz, 1 track BK1Brian Kidd, 1 track IK1Ibrahima Kouyate, 1 track ES1Emile Soumah, 1 track J1Jay-Z, 1 track SC1Shawn Corey Carter, 1 track on Jay-Z's page D1Drake, 1 track AD1Aubrey Drake Graham, 1 track LM1Leslie Merceron, 1 track XS1Xavier Smith, 1 track LM1L&X Music, 1 track CL1Curtis Lee Mayfield, 1 track ED1Ernest Dion Wilson, 1 track KR1Kevin Randolph, 1 track SW1Steve Wyreman, 1 track NI1No I.D., 1 track CZ1Cubic Z, 1 track MN1Milton Nascimento, 1 track EK1Eero Koivistoinen, 1 track KO1Kanye Omari West, 1 track BK1Bosco Kante, 1 track EW1Elliot Wolff, 1 track JL1John Legend, 1 track MB1Miri Ben-Ari, 1 track SR1Sukmeke Rainey, 1 track SB1Sleepy Brown, 1 track CR1Clifford Robertson, 1 track JM1James Mtume, 1 track RK1R. Kelly, 1 track SS1Sly Stone, 1 track S1Speech, 1 track on Arrested Development's page KS1Kerney Sermon, 1 track MD1Mr. DJ, 1 track HL1Hubert Laws, 1 track M1Miguel, 1 track BG1Brandon Green, 1 track RM1Ryan Mattos, 1 track MM1Madeline McKenna, 1 track AC1Amber Coffman, 1 track C1Cults, 1 track MG1Michael Giffts, 1 track DA1Deborah Anderson, 1 track FD1Fabrice Dumont, 1 track SH1Stéphan Haeri, 1 track CH1Christophe Hétier, 1 track KL1Kendrick Lamar, 1 track TS1Terry Stubbs, 1 track JW1John Wilson, 1 track CS1Charles Still, 1 track RP1Reggie Perry, 1 track S1Syience, 1 track RH1Rich Harrison, 1 track MS1Meleni Smith, 1 track T1TLC, 1 track FA1Fela Anikulapo Kuti, 1 track JF1James Fauntleroy II, 1 track JF1James Fauntleroy, 1 track BD1Brookln Dekker, 1 track 5C150 Cent, 1 track WB1Wayne Bell, 1 track WC1Willie Chambers, 1 track AG1Andre Goodwin, 1 track SJ1Steven Jordan, 1 track LB1Layzie Bone, 1 track on Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's page TH1Taiwo Hassan, 1 track KH1Kehinde Hassan, 1 track DB1David Bollmann, 1 track KB1Kelly Bollmann, 1 track SB1Stacie Bollmann, 1 track MO1Matthew Osborn, 1 track SP1Stephen Patrick, 1 track CR1Christian Rich, 1 track JA1Jhené Aiko, 1 track TT1Timothy Thomas, 1 track AT1Andre Thomas, 1 track YA1Yumi Arai, 1 track KM1Kunihiko Murai, 1 track NP1Nick Paradise, 1 track DC1Dré Charles, 1 track CS1Charles Simmons, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 369. TW Tyler Williams · T T-Minus · KW Kelvin Wooten · E Elite · W Wu10

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

J. Cole produces the overwhelming majority of his own material, across seven albums, he holds a production credit on virtually every track. He also writes every word himself, making him one of the rare mainstream rappers with near-100% ownership of both the lyrical and musical content of his catalog. His reliance on outside producers has increased slightly on later albums (The Off-Season, The Fall-Off), but the core of his discography is the work of one person.

Quick Facts

  • Number onesAll seven of his studio albums have debuted at number one on the Billboard 200
  • No features2014 Forest Hills Drive went platinum with no guest features
  • GrammysWon 2 Grammys from 17 nominations, including Best Rap Song for '.a Lot' with 21 Savage
  • DreamvilleRuns Dreamville Records, home to JID, Ari Lennox, Bas, and EarthGang
  • Self-producedHolds a production credit on nearly every song across his catalogue

Creative Fingerprint

A rare double author: J. Cole writes every word himself and produces most of his own beats, so he is credited on about 99% of his tracks in both the lyric and music columns, an unusually high ownership for a mainstream rapper.

The Story

J. Cole (Jermaine Lamarr Cole) is an American rapper, singer, and record producer from Fayetteville, North Carolina, known for deeply personal lyricism and near-total self-production. He signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint in 2009 and debuted with Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011). He has since released seven studio albums, all of which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. He founded the Dreamville Records label, home to Bas, Ari Lennox, J.I.D., Earthgang, and others.

Awards & Recognition

Won 2 Grammy Awards from 17 nominations
Won the Grammy for Best Rap Song as a writer on '.a Lot' by [21 Savage](/artist/21-savage/) (2020)
All seven of his studio albums debuted at number one on the Billboard 200
2014 Forest Hills Drive is certified multi-platinum and famously featured no guest artists

Frequently Asked Questions J. Cole

Does J. Cole write his own songs?
Yes, and he produces most of them too. J. Cole is credited on about 99% of his catalogue, writing every lyric himself and holding a production credit on nearly every track. Songs like 'No Role Modelz,' 'Love Yourz,' and 'ATM' are his in both the words and the beat, which is rare even among rappers who write their own verses.
Does J. Cole produce his own music?
Yes. Cole is self-taught on piano and produces the overwhelming majority of his own material, which is a big part of why his authorship score is so high. On most albums he is the primary or sole producer, controlling both the writing and the sound.
Who wrote 'No Role Modelz'?
'No Role Modelz,' from 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014), was written by J. Cole with co-production credits, and it interpolates other works which adds names to the composer credit. It became one of his most streamed songs and a signature track of his no-features album.
What does 'no features' mean on 2014 Forest Hills Drive?
It means J. Cole recorded the entire album without any guest artists, then it went platinum. The phrase 'went platinum with no features' became a running joke and a point of pride, highlighting that he carried the whole record himself.
Did J. Cole win a Grammy?
Yes. He has won two Grammy Awards from seventeen nominations. One came as a songwriter on '.a Lot' by 21 Savage, which won Best Rap Song in 2020, showing his writing is valued even on other artists' records.
How many albums has J. Cole released?
This catalogue covers seven studio albums, from Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011) through The Fall-Off (2026), every one of which reached number one on the Billboard 200.
What is J. Cole's label Dreamville?
Dreamville Records is the label J. Cole co-founded, signing artists like JID, Ari Lennox, Bas, and EarthGang. It has released collaborative compilations such as Revenge of the Dreamers III (2019).
Who wrote 'Crooked Smile'?
'Crooked Smile,' from Born Sinner (2013), was written by J. Cole and features TLC on the hook. Its message about self-acceptance made it one of his most enduring singles, and like most of his work it was also produced by Cole.
What genre is J. Cole?
J. Cole makes hip-hop, conscious hip-hop, and East Coast hip-hop, known for introspective, self-produced records that trade guest features and radio gloss for personal storytelling.

Sources

Wikipedia: J. Cole