J. Cole: Better Than Your Fav New Rapper

If you have a favorite amongst the current Freshman Class of Hip-Hop, I almost guarantee that he's got nothing on the Roc Nation signee J. Cole (I say "almost" in case your current fav is Wale, then there's a debate to be had).

So who is J. Cole? I'll spare you the entire bio and hit you with the more interesting facts.

Where He's From: Fayettville, NC. After being influenced by southern rap in his teens, Cole decided at age 18 that he wanted to move to New York to study the East Coast rap style. With no connects in the Big Apple, he applied to St. John's University with the intent to have a deal before he earned a degree. As life would have it, the degree came before the deal of a lifetime as the first signee on Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint.

His Influences: Cole names Nas, Eminem Canibus and 2Pac among his favorite rappers.

His Sound: Cole's studies in NYC produced more than a degree, they also resulted in a rhyme style that is far more kin to East Coast cyphers than his North Carolina roots. He attacks beats in a way that will please fans of hardcore spitters. His lyrics depict the hood that made him from the perspective of a man on a mission to rise above. Charismatic enough to make the ladies smile every now and then, but I wouldn't call his music particularly "girl-friendly" (Unless of course, you're a girl like me who prefers lyrics, flows, storytelling and intricate rhyme patterns over catchy hooks and dance-friendly beats.)

Interesting Fact: On top of his rhyme skills, J. Cole produces music.

Don't Get It Twisted: I predict that with his light-skinned pretty boy look, he will draw immediate comparisons to up and coming hip-hop heartthrob Drake. And honestly, upon first listen, I did hear a slight similarity in their voices. The more I listened, however, the more I found J. Cole to be the superior MC. His brand of hip-hop is less commercial, with a far greater edge and consistent emotional and intellectual depth.

Get Familiar: You can catch up with J. Cole's earlier material on his American Dreamin' mixtape.

Current Heat: Yesterday, Cole dropped his much anticipated mixtape The Warm Up, which has both Dee and I bobbing our heads with the mean screw face and needs to be in your summer music collection. Our favorite tracks include Dreams, Heartache, and the motivational I Get Up.

- Robin Monique aka "Mrs. Hip-Hop"