Prominent hip-hop artist J. Cole has inked a deal to compete in the Chinese Basketball Association, joining the Nanjing Monkey Kings, as insiders informed ESPN on Wednesday.
The acclaimed musician, a recipient of multiple Grammy Awards and numerous Platinum certifications, had previously pledged to appear in a handful of matches for the Chinese squad last year and is now honoring that commitment.
This marks the third occasion Cole, known by his full name Jermaine Cole, has participated in a professional athletic circuit. His prior engagements include competing with the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League during 2021 and with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022.
In his youth, he participated in high school basketball within North Carolina.
Cole secured a Grammy in 2020 for Best Rap Song (“A Lot” by 21 Savage featuring J. Cole) and boasts several BET Hip Hop Awards. Furthermore, he possesses six Platinum-certified albums and has crafted tracks for various artists, such as Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson, and Young Thug.
His newest record, “The Fall-Off,” became available to the public in February.
Content for this dispatch was provided by The Associated Press.