Will J. Cole Surpass Taylor Swift For 2021's Biggest Billboard 200 Album Debut?
| LAST UPDATE 05/17/2021
"What you sold, I tripled that, I can't believe these f*****' clowns / Look how everybody clappin' when your 30-song album do a measly hundred thou."
These lines are how J. Cole kicks off 'The Off-Season,' and it's looking like he called his shot, even nailing the estimated sales count. Multiple sources expect Cole to push about 310,000 units of his sixth album as the week progresses.
That would be the largest debut on the Billboard 200 this year, surpassing the rerelease of Taylor Swift's 'Fearless,' which sold 290k copies last month despite first being released in 2008.
With 59 million streams, Cole already secured the biggest debut on Spotify this year across genres.
Among the many elements of 'The Off-Season' that fans are loving is the perfectly situated guest list, including 21 Savage, Lil Baby, 6LACK, Bas and Fayetteville's own Morray.
When the album first arrived on streaming services, though, the features weren't listed. The tracklist didn't tease any features either, leading some fans to think Cole was going to be on his "Platinum with no features" grind again.
Over the weekend, however, Cole was concerned with a different set of numbers: 83-60. That's the final score of his pro hoops debut with the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League, as they bodied the Nigeria River Hoopers to start its inaugural season.
At 36 years old, Cole played 17 minutes and put up 3 points, 3 boards and 2 assists in the winning effort. It appears even one of Cole's main rap competitors, Drake, is impressed with his second career.
Peep the fire video Cole just dropped for "a m a r i" below.