J. Cole to Join Nanjing Monkey Kings in China

J. Cole, the Grammy-winning rap artist, is set to trade his microphone for a basketball jersey. He plans to play with the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association starting in 2025, according to various reports. It’s still uncertain how many games he will participate in. Interestingly, he hasn’t shared this new venture on his Instagram, keeping his basketball skills somewhat under wraps. However, he does have some experience in professional sports.

In 2021, Cole played for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League, where he managed to score 5 points, record 3 assists, and grab 5 rebounds in three games. The following year, he also joined the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, averaging 2.4 points and 0.6 rebounds per game.

In the meantime, fans can enjoy his latest album, “The Fall-Off,” which dropped in February. Cole is also gearing up for a world tour featuring 73 shows, starting in his home state of North Carolina on July 10. The tour will take him through various states, including two nights in Atlanta and multiple stops in New York and California, before wrapping up in Johannesburg, South Africa, on December 12.

J. Cole has received significant recognition in his music career, including a Grammy for Best Rap Song for the hit “A Lot” featuring 21 Savage in 2020. He has amassed six Platinum albums, such as “Cole World: The Sideline Story” and “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” and has worked with several high-profile artists like Kendrick Lamar and Janet Jackson.