Rapper J. Cole makes a statement about the criminal justice system by performing in prison issued jumpsuit

Rapper J. Cole makes a memorable entrance during his 4 Your Eyez Only Tour. The 32-year-old hip-hop artist, real name Jermaine Lamarr Cole, takes to the stage wearing an orange prison-issued jumpsuit while escorted by 4 prison guards.

Cole's manager, Ibrahim Hamad, said the rapper wears prison orange to protest the mass incarceration of black males in a racist society.

He said Cole had a "life changing experience" when he visited an actual prison, San Quentin, on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

Cole spoke to inmates serving life sentences before performing in concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

"We got the opportunity to spend the day at San Quentin State Prison talking and meeting inmates who will never see the outside again," Ibrahim captioned images on Instagram.com. "That experience was a life changing experience and wish I had the ability to put that in a caption but that wouldn't be doing it justice."

In 2016, a coalition of rappers, including Cole and Nicki Minaj, met with former President Barack Obama to discuss Obama's My Brother's Keeper Initiative and criminal justice reform.

Photos by Getty Images

  • pure_rachet

    He's not cute and I like none of his songs.

  • My Thoughts

    I love his thought provoking lyrics. Good music with good substance. ?????

  • YouWontSayItButIWill

    Set it off.....

  • noireyblanca

    I luvs me some J.Cole. I like that he always has a message in his music unlike the 95% of rappers out now.

  • Karen Brady

    Love him and and love his neighbors think I'm selling dope song. DEEEEEEEEEEEP.

  • Knocked Kneed and Pigeon Toed

    Cut them dreads, shave that face, take 2 baths then a shower. I'd fugg em. His intellectual lyrics get my cat wet. Forgive me but I'm a sapiosexual!!!

  • Justlooknout

    Yasssssss....Intelligence

    Fans Self

  • Knocked Kneed and Pigeon Toed

    OKK!! Theres just something about an intelligent dude with a splash of hood in him.

  • stav

    I'm pretty sure Kendrick Lamar already did this(prison uniform, with police)on an award show, so this would just be a knockoff! Also worst dreads ever...Almost! Those dreadful locs does nothing for him, he just looks unkempt.

  • Justlooknout

    Change begins with folks that have a platform. Rolls out my red carpet to folks and specifically young BLACK men trying to make a change. BIG UPS TO J. COLE!!!!!

  • PlayerP

    GIRRRRL!

  • BeUtFullSoul

    ***APPLAUDS*** J.COLE!!!
    Let's Be The CHANGE We Want To SEE!

  • Bonsai

    He has a great personality which makes him cute.

  • Pamela

    I thought San Quentin is in California not NY?

  • https://www.facebook.com/CrysttalTHATChic?ref=hl Crysttal2u@yahoo.com

    #panting
    Y'ALL PLEASE STOP.. *looks for pause button* WHEW... AN INTELLIGENT, HANDSOME, WELL BALANCED, WELL ROUNDED, WELL ENDOWED HAHAHAHAHA... BLACK MAN .. i'll take THAT for $500 Alex!!!!!!!!

  • Peter Piper ATL

    Its probably a publicity stunt but I appreciate his effort. The issue is fairness. We know that some people commit crimes that necessitate them having their asses locked up long after their grand-babies retire from the post office. But there is such a thing as racial profiling, and an undeniable bias in the criminal justice system that is slanted against Black men, and Black women too.

    But warehousing Black men, especially, has given way to a number of surprising cottage industries that have basically taken the place of the slavery system: bail bonds; court reporters; correctional staffers; commissary companies; private prisons; collect call companies; prison uniform manufacturers;private probation companies; the list goes on.

    When you start to monetize incarceration, how on Earth do you reform something like that? Its more complicated than a concert. Major corporations have vested interests in this and they pull the strings of the politicians so where does the reformation begin?

    Its very depressing.

  • Harley

    STAND UP DUDE!!! RESPECT!

  • ibedatchick

    San Quentin isnt in NYC its in San Francisco

  • Harley

    Yet he is talented, educated and not promoting violence.... with your name tho go figure smh

  • Justlooknout

    @sandrarose - dismiss the intern

    they are NOT fact checking.

    That prison is located in the great state of California

  • Harley

    So true! This is a billion dollar industry for many corporations. They love to pride themselves on not "outsourcing" yet they are still taking advantage of laborers

  • Knocked Kneed and Pigeon Toed

    Shiiiiittt girl the way these nuccas is set up now a days ill take 3 out of the 5 you named. Usually if a dude is intelligent, handsome, well balanced and well rounded then he ain't packing so WHAT THAT MOUF DO!??

  • tintin

    I love me some j cole

  • Karen Brady

    Goodness could you imagine. Move over Rikers.

  • Karen Brady

    Ain't nothing wring with that.

  • Karen Brady

    *goes home to fall on knees and pray*

  • SouthernGirlAZWorld

    I can not stand unkept dreads

  • dontgetblocked

    I guess it looks good. That's about it. Let's face it. Most black men who are in jail deserve to be there. What about their victims? I've got bigger battles to fight and for worthier causes.

  • ALLMINE

    somebody preachin

  • BacktolurkingIgo

    So talented and giving. ?

  • Nathan Hastings

    Change starts from within. These niggas don't wanna change...

  • https://www.facebook.com/CrysttalTHATChic?ref=hl Crysttal2u@yahoo.com

    LMAOFFFFFFFFF!!!! *DROPS MIC* #whatDATmoufDODOE hahahahaha

  • https://www.facebook.com/CrysttalTHATChic?ref=hl Crysttal2u@yahoo.com

    THAT PART!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL!!!!

  • https://www.facebook.com/CrysttalTHATChic?ref=hl Crysttal2u@yahoo.com

    Calvin Harris - Slide (Official Audio) ft. Frank Ocean, Migos

    https://youtu.be/8Ee4QjCEHHc

    THIS SONG KNOCKS... HARD

  • https://twitter.com/Chicagowise Chicagowise

    "... the rapper wears prison orange to protest the mass incarceration of black males in a racist society."

    Is anyone protesting the mass behavior that leads to these mass incarcerations?

    Illinois has some of the most liberal judges in the country. As a result, black neighborhoods are under siege by domestic terrorists.

  • Sarah7

    I love J Cole!!

  • ramosyo
  • Jahnée Gill Mr.Eddie Murphy

    His girl looks way better than you though. I'm sure she couldn't care less how you feel about her man. Bloop! P.S
    Your sister is the prettier one too.
    Bloop !
    NO DISRESPECT. ?

  • Please Stop The Madness

    NC STAND UP

  • Miss Lady

    San Quentin Prison is not in NYC.

  • I want to be free

    Say that ish SIS!

  • Howard Alum ?

    Thank you ???? I was definitely side eyeing Sandra, like now ??

  • Howard Alum ?

    Actually.....San Quentin penitentiary is in San Quentin, CA.....Across the Golden Gate Bridge ?

  • HalleMerry

    TRUTH...perfectly describes my ex. Intelligent,Lawyer,and generally a nice guy,but he had a pinky. I thought that's "pinky's" were like unicorns,but they DO exist.

  • ReadingIsFundamental4Real

    Oh these comments..... maybe next time Lord.

  • pure_rachet

    I don't know what his girl looks like and I don't care. I've known all my life my sister is prettier. I don't care either. I am smarter and have a better future than she will. I will also age better.

  • pure_rachet

    None of your information has changed my opinion in the least.

  • GuestSTAR

    I was thinking the same thing. Only San Quentin I know of is right outside San Fran.

  • https://sandrarose.com SandraRose

    I'm sure there are more than one San Quentins.

  • BlackFeeMale

    Ok. Slap the chit outta me or sumthin cause i do NOT see how performing in prison gear in front of an im assuming half black crowd who most likely smokin HELLA WEED is doin this cause justice. FOR CHRIST SAKE OPEN UP BLACK PRESCHOOLS START THE CALL TO ACTION AT AN EARLY AGE. Sponsor more reading math tutoring baseball football soccer programs in the black hoods. NI668S ON STAGE CRYING OVER SPILT MILK N CHIT......DROPS MIKE

  • BlackFeeMale

    Thank you

  • Dallas Kennedy

    Everybody talking bout his dreads... Oh he look dirty
    Usher one of the cleanest cut mfs around meanwhile he dripping destroy ya thotbox juice but it's ok his haircut..
    Nicki met for the I am my Brothers keeper...let me stop there hmm... She sure out mfs got life fucced on God ... Sad when a MF try to do something to change and help cultivate internal changes mfs worried about external appearance thats why all these girls got herpes now.. worried about the outside of the pipe meanwhile what's on the inside gone kill u

  • Dallas Kennedy

    Most black men in jail due to systematic childhood trauma... That people like u turn a blind eye on... It's called ptsd ironically victims of this in the military receive therapy.. medication.. they are treated in respect to the trauma they have been exposed to... Sexual abuse, rape, molestation, drug deals, drug sales, drug use and abuse, alcohol abuse, abandonment, neglect, poverty, poverty stricken communities... So sorry, once u get to the root of the reason why, properly assess and address then n only then can u say they deserve to be in jail. most of them are in jail because they know not how to function as a normal person in society bc a normal person n society typically don't go thru so much... Funny u think you are better bc u haven't been to jail but u have a wicked and unforgiving heart. most women like u have daddy issues and a series of failed relationships from being overly dominate dealing with weaker men so they can control them... U driving up to your glass house on a very Rocky road... What battles u fighting I mean really whether u gonna post on Sandra rose or bossip.. how many like u get from other wicked like minded people I would say u a clown... But u not u a ringleader everyone that liked it is a clown...tell me where you live the circus missed my city

  • Yetunde

    Very good points, well made.

  • Yetunde

    I love that track too!

  • V Dubb

    Say it!!!!!!!!

  • Waya Hedia

    Do the crime, do the time.
    There's your statement.

  • Howard Alum ?

    Sorry Sandra, but there is only one San Quentin.....

  • Harley

    why would it ? your "ratchet" while I am educated. I would not expect to change your ignorant opinion

  • pure_rachet

    Troll. You know nothing about me. Calling names because I don't like a rapper? Blocked.

  • JJSPLAYHOUSE

    I love J.Cole. These ingnant bastards won't understand until they're starring in the next viral police video.

  • Harley

    Naw calling you YOUR name. It clearly says "ratchet" which is a behavior that is ignorant and foul. And a troll? bye ignoramous!!!

  • Jahnée Gill Mr.Eddie Murphy

    Oh so you're jealous of your sister? Got it. You might want to see a therapist about your issues with you sister. Take care.

  • pure_rachet

    Why can't you read??

  • Jahnée Gill Mr.Eddie Murphy

    Are you dumb? No for real real, are you dumb?

  • pure_rachet

    I don't see anything wrong with saying I think my sister was prettier. I never said I'm jealous. Now get out of my feed. You're annoying as f.

  • Jahnée Gill Mr.Eddie Murphy

    You're profile name suits you. Carry your old ass outta my feed, bye.

  • Judi Lauren

    No there isn't, Auntie. And there are NO prisons in NYC, just jails, as all prisions are in NYS. Different correctional system. The infamous prison in NYS is called Sing Sing...