One of Jay-Z’s promising Roc Nation signees will warm up the crowd when Hov and Eminem’s Home and Home Tour hits NYC.
Fayetteville, North Carolina, MC J. Cole will open for the hip-hop gods when their joint show heads to Yankee Stadium next week, according to RapRadar.com. The Warm Up mixtape rapper will open the show along with VMA nominee B.o.B, who worked his magic at the tour’s Detroit outings.
Upstart MC J. Cole is the latest addition to a tour lineup that has been heavy on historic appearances from rap greats. Inimitable beatmaster and hip-hop pioneer Dr. Dre, G-Unit boss 50 Cent and Toronto star Drake all surprised thousands of fans at Jigga and Shady’s Comerica Park shows last week.
The opening slot is another milestone in what has shaped up to be a major year for Cole. After becoming the first artist to ink a deal with Jay’s Roc Nation imprint and stepping out on tour with the rock-star MC last year, Cole was dubbed a Freshman ’10 rapper by XXL magazine in March. The same month, the MC headlined his first NYC show, ably satisfying the city’s finicky music fans. In July, he was a top-five finalist for MTV News’ “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010” and can be heard on the smoky hit R&B single “All I Want Is You” from fellow newcomer Miguel.
Cole’s single “Who Dat” has hit the airwaves, and the rising lyricist told MTV News earlier this year that he’s checking out the successful blueprint his mentor Jay established when it comes to rolling out his debut LP.
“You might have an incredible single or an incredible song, and if you just set it up the wrong way, it won’t go as far as it could’ve went,” he said. “I feel like Jay’s last album had the perfect setup, single-wise. So it’s really about finding the right setup, and then from there, it’s up to the people to decide.”
Before Eminem heads to New York, he’ll be opening the 2010 VMAs on Sunday night in Los Angeles.