J. Cole: Road to the BET Awards 2013

A look back at the Roc Nation's incredible year.

/content/dam/betcom/images/2012/11/Music-11-16-11-30/111912-music-j-cole.jpg

1 / 11

Road to the BET Awards 2013 - Two years after signing with Roc Nation, J. Cole is arguably one of the hottest acts in hip hop. The pressure was on after the success of his debut disc, Cole World: The Sideline Story, and Jermaine didn't disappoint with his sophomore release, Born Sinner. Take a look back at the North Carolina native's incredible year, before he takes his talents to the BET Awards on June 30.(Photo: C Flanigan/WireImage/Getty Images)

Lollapalooza – August 5, 2012 - Cole took the stage at the world's original mega-concert last summer and exposed an eclectic audience to his music. Accompanied by Childish Gambino and a live band, J. killed it with his hits "Who Dat" and "The Cure."(Photo: Erika Goldring/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

2 / 11

Lollapalooza – August 5, 2012 - Cole took the stage at the world's original mega-concert last summer and exposed an eclectic audience to his music. Accompanied by Childish Gambino and a live band, J. killed it with his hits "Who Dat" and "The Cure."(Photo: Erika Goldring/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Diamonds in the Rough – February 18, 2013 - Cole dropped a verse for his boy French Montana on the track "Diamonds" off of Montana's mixtape Mac & Cheese 3. The video, also featuring Rick Ross, showed the trio rockin' some serious ice. (Photo: Interscope Records)

3 / 11

Diamonds in the Rough – February 18, 2013 - Cole dropped a verse for his boy French Montana on the track "Diamonds" off of Montana's mixtape Mac & Cheese 3. The video, also featuring Rick Ross, showed the trio rockin' some serious ice. (Photo: Interscope Records)

Tweet Beat – February 22, 2013 - After racking up 2 million Twitter followers and reaching a new peak of popularity, Cole thanked his fans with the track "Grew Up Fast." The rapper took it back to his mixtape days and gave the joint away for free. (Photo: Roc Nation)

4 / 11

Tweet Beat – February 22, 2013 - After racking up 2 million Twitter followers and reaching a new peak of popularity, Cole thanked his fans with the track "Grew Up Fast." The rapper took it back to his mixtape days and gave the joint away for free. (Photo: Roc Nation)

J. Cole featuring Miguel "Power Trip" - A continuation of his secret crush song "Dreams," from 2009's The Warm Up, 2013's "Power Trip," featuring Miguel, is yet another instance of J. Cole being kept up all night by his feelings. (Photo: Roc Nation)

5 / 11

Dark, Twisted Fantasy – April 8, 2013 - A gifted storyteller, Cole's music video for the lead single off his sophomore album, Born Sinner, put disturbing visuals to the dark lyrics of the track. Cole plays a stalker intent on killing the boyfriend (Miguel, who guests on the track) of a woman he's obsessed with. (Photo: Roc Nation)

ADVERTISEMENT
Brooklyn Love – April 8, 2013 - The same day their provocative music video dropped, Cole stopped by the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to perform the instant hit with Miguel, who was playing a tour date with Alicia Keys. Needless to say, audiences were thrilled with the surprise guest.(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

6 / 11

Brooklyn Love – April 8, 2013 - The same day their provocative music video dropped, Cole stopped by the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to perform the instant hit with Miguel, who was playing a tour date with Alicia Keys. Needless to say, audiences were thrilled with the surprise guest.(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

"Crooked Smile" featuring TLC - On "Crooked Smile," J. Cole takes on another trek uphill. He pairs himself again with powerful voices from the '90s. This time, TLC's Chilli and T-Boz lend support á la "Unpretty" and "Waterfalls." It's the only really "feel good" cut of the album.(Photos: Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images)

7 / 11

On the TLC Tip – May 23, 2013 - He asked, and he received. When J. Cole wrote the lyrics for "Crooked Smile," a song he claims he worked on longer than any other in his career, he wanted TLC to only sing the hook. He got his wish, and the artists created a soul-stirring music video for the anthem.(Photos: Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images)

J.Cole - Born sinner J.Cole was also in attendance as one of Miguel's special surprise guests. The winning pair performed their latest collaboration, "Power Trip."(Photo: Courtesy of Hot97.com)

8 / 11

Summer Man – June 2, 2013 - Gearing up for the release of his album Born Sinner, Young Simba got the audience hyped at Summer Jam, where he performed some classics like "Who Dat" as well as new tracks. (Photo: Courtesy Hot97.com)

"Rich N----z" - Harp strings get pulled on "Rich N----z" with Cole explaining just why he's content shielded from the epilletic flashing lights of the mainstream. "I hate rich n----s, godd---it/ 'Cause I ain't never had a lot, damn it."(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

9 / 11

Dolla Dolla Bill – June 10, 2013 - J. Cole kicked off his Dollar & A Dream tour to promote his new album, Born Sinner, in Miami. Proving he always puts his fans first, Jermaine opted to skip the stadiums and perform at intimate venues, charging only one dollar per ticket on a first come, first served basis. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Album of the Year: J. Cole – Born Sinner - Landing at the top of the Billboard 200 chart (his second No. 1 album) off of singles like "Power Trip" and "Crooked Smile," J. Cole is making this rap thing look easy. (Photo: RocNation)

10 / 11

Born Sinner – June 18, 2013 - After two years and several delays, J. Cole finally dropped his highly anticipated sophomore album. Feeling confident about his work, the rapper decided to go head-to-head with Kanye West for the crown, and came pretty damn close to capturing the throne.   (Photo: Roc Nation)

Second Chance – June 27, 2013 - Now that he's a bona fide star, J. Cole is resurrecting the two mixtapes that put him on the map (The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights) and making them available for purchase. "The classics I had, I didn't have a chance to have those be commercially sold," he told Hot 97 recently. Looks like J. isn't interested in relishing his success, and is already on to the next. (Photo: Roc Nation)

11 / 11

Second Chance – June 27, 2013 - Now that he's a bona fide star, J. Cole is resurrecting the two mixtapes that put him on the map (The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights) and making them available for purchase. "The classics I had, I didn't have a chance to have those be commercially sold," he told Hot 97 recently. Looks like J. isn't interested in relishing his success, and is already on to the next. (Photo: Roc Nation)