S. Samuel
Rap mogul Jay Z is showing the world just how much respect and admiration he has for Roc Nation protégé J. Cole by giving him his first-ever Roc-A-Fella Records chain last night (January 28) in New York.
New footage of Jigga coming out with his present during Cole’s performance last night has surfaced online.
The Roc was in the building when J. Cole brought his “What Dreams May Come” tour to The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Tuesday. The North Carolina rapper, who celebrated his 29th birthday, was joined onstage by his mentor Jay Z, who performed “Public Service Announcement” and presented his protégé with his original Roc-A-Fella Records chain. “It’s his birthday, but he giving out gifts. So I think it’s only right that you get a gift,” said Jay. “That on your neck is my original Roc chain and it’s yours.” “This is unreal,” responded Cole, who thanked him and asked for one more birthday gift, that he perform “F*ckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt.” (Rap-Up)
The North Carolina native made yesterday even more special by announcing his Revenge of the Dreamers mixtape via Twitter.
“A gift for you from Dreamville. Celebration. Thank you for the Birthday love. Much Love to Interscope,” Cole tweeted January 28. (J. Cole’s Twitter)
Later in the day, Cole announced a partnership of his Dreamville label and Interscope Records.
Dreamville, one of hip-hop’s most innovative and creative collectives and the force behind the phenomenal success of rapper J. Cole, whose first two albums hit #1 across the charts, has formed an exclusive label with Interscope Records. Dreamville also announced today that its first artist signing will be Bas, who has been supporting Cole on tour. “Dreamville celebrates the sort of grass roots, out-of-the-box approach to connecting artists to their fans that can help move the music industry into the future. We are very pleased to welcome Dreamville into the Interscope family,” says Joie Manda, President, Urban Music, Interscope Records. (Press Release)
The 29-year-old rapper reportedly launched Dreamville seven years ago.
Cole and business partner Ibrahim Hamad launched Dreamville in 2007, before Cole became the first signing for Jay-Z‘s Roc Nation two years later (Cole remains an artist with Roc Nation). Since then, the Dreamville team has been responsible for successes on record, on stage, on the Internet, and beyond. As a result, Cole, a magna cum laude graduate of St. John’s University with a major in communications and minor in business, has been named one of Forbes magazine’s prestigious 30 Under 30 in the music industry. (Press Release)
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Check out the concert footage:
