J. Cole “Applying Pressure: The Off-Season Documentary” and Becomes the First Artist to be Featured SOLO on the Cover of SLAM!

On Tuesday, May 11, rapper J. Cole became the first artist to be featured solo on the cover of iconic basketball publication SLAM. The cover is for SLAM 232, the June/July 2021 issue of the magazine. The issue’s cover story was released this morning and can be read at covers.slamonline.com/j-cole.

“J. Cole stands for everything SLAM stands for—the way basketball and music overlap and inspire greatness in one another,” says Adam Figman, Chief Content Officer at SLAM. “This cover was a long time coming, and we’re proud that we were able to make it happen just as Cole was about to release an album influenced by his love of hoops.” 

The cover comes as J. Cole is readying the release of The Off-Season, his forthcoming sixth studio album, which drops everywhere this Friday, May 14th. 

“The Off-Season symbolizes the work that it takes to get to the highest height,” Cole says in a rare interview for the cover story, written by Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins. “The Off-Season represents the many hours and months and years it took to get to top form.”