S. Samuel
After Roc Nation's J. Cole showed and proved his long-awaited Cole World: The Sideline Story lived up to the hype, retail performance-wise, the North Carolina emcee's boss Jay-Z has now shared his reaction.
In addition to Jay’s reaction, manager Mark Pitts also expressed his thoughts on the chart topping debut.
“J. Cole’s success is testament to amazing artist development and Cole’s hard work,” Jay-Z said, via press release. “I want to congratulate him on a #1 album and more importantly a great body of work.” Cole’s first solo album, which he’s been meticulously working on for the past five years, has sold 218,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan. “Cole World: the Sideline Story” marks the first time a solo act’s debut effort has entered at No. 1 since May 14, 2010. Mark Pitts, President of Urban Music, Sony / JIVE Records and CEO, Bystorm Entertainment and Cole’s manager, lent praise as well, “J Cole personifies humility and grace with edge and depth. As an MC, his point of view speaks to and represents me. I’m proud and blessed to be a part of his journey!” (Billboard)
Prior to today’s finalized sales, Cole shared his reaction to the pre-determined album’s success on Tuesday.
“So many people to stunt on, fighting the urge to be spiteful. This moment is too important for that. Just want to say THANK YOU,” he tweeted October 4th.
“Thanks to yall, we shook the game up. No chart topping single, just 2 years of hard work, great music and real ass fans. #1 album”
“Thanks to every fan that held me down, every friend, every blog, magazine, tv, radio station, dj’s and pd’s, I feel like we ALL won” (J. Cole’s Twitter)
Debuting atop the chart, Cole’s long-awaited release sold nearly 220,000 copies its opening week.
Leading the pack this week is J. Cole’s Cole World: The Sideline Story debuting at No. 1. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the North Carolina rap newcomer’s long-awaited debut album has sold 217,300 copies after seven days in stores. (SOHH Sales Wrap)
Last week estimates had the project selling up to 250,000 copies.
The German-born rapper J. Cole, who grew up in Fayetteville, NC, then went to school on a scholarship to St. John’s in Queens before getting discovered by Jay-Z, who made him the first signing to his Roc Nation label through Columbia, debuts at #1 with Cole World: The Sideline Story. The album, which features collaborations with his mentor, as well as Trey Songz, Drake and Missy Elliott, has surpassed even label expectations with prospects of a sales total approaching 225-250k its first week. (HITS Daily Double)
Check out a recent J. Cole interview down below:
