J. Cole

"Cole World: The Sideline Story" is the debut studio album of American rapper J. Cole. It was released on September 27, 2011, by Roc Nation and Columbia Records. The album is his first studio release, following three successful mixtapes. It features the production that was handled mainly by Cole himself, with some production from high-profile producer No I.D. It includes four guest appearances from Trey Songz, Drake, Jay-Z and Missy Elliott.

The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with 218,000 copies sold in the first week following its release. The album has since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold 855,000 copies in the United States as of December 2016. The album was supported by three official singles:" Work Out", "Can't Get Enough" and "Nobody's Perfect".

The album was one of the most anticipated releases of 2011 due to the sharp rise in J. Cole's popularity and mainstream fan base. Cole's lyrics perhaps most strikingly deal with issues such as abortion and the consequences of growing up in a fatherless household. However, these themes are incorporated alongside more introspective issues such as relationships, family problems, fame and attempting to be successful. The album was generally well received by critics, who praised the wholesomeness of the album.