J. Cole To Play Professional Basketball in Rwanda

It’s been quite a few days for Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole, who is reportedly going to be a professional basketball player.

#BREAKING: American rapper J. Cole @JColeNC is in Rwanda and could feature for local side Patriots at the upcoming Basketball Africa League.

The New Times has learned he is on the club's roster for the competition. pic.twitter.com/mhHOBCAvhx

— The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) May 9, 2021">According to multiple sources, Cole has signed a deal to play professional basketball in Rwanda, with his new album also set to drop this Friday.

J. Cole played two years of high school basketball, and

J. Cole was set to be a walk-on basketball player at St. John’s in college, but instead decided to focus on his music career. That’s worked out pretty well, as he’s widely considered one of the best rappers alive, and has won a Grammy Award and has a host of other award nominations.

Shams Charania, an NBA insider for The Athletic,

Sources: American rap star J. Cole is signing a deal in the Basketball Africa League with Rwanda's Patriots B.B.C. J. Cole will play 3-to-6 games, the first of which on Sunday vs. Nigeria.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 10, 2021">said Cole is expected to play his first game with the club on Sunday, when they square off against Nigeria.

Cole has a new album set to drop this Friday, May 14 – The Off-Season. He released the first track off the album – “i n t e r l u d e” – last Friday.

“Just know this was years in the making,” Cole said in announcing the

Just know this was years in the making.

My new album The Off-Season available everywhere 5/14 pic.twitter.com/aBw4po8fvx

— J. Cole (@JColeNC) May 4, 2021">new album release date. “My new album The Off-Season available everywhere 5/14.”