J. Cole Brings “The Warm Up” to Streaming Platforms 15 Years After Its Release

J. Cole fans have a reason to celebrate as the rapper’s 2009 mixtape The Warm Up is now available on streaming services. Released on November 22, 2024, the mixtape arrived less than a week after Cole dropped his debut project The Come Up on the same platforms, marking a major milestone in his career. The release of The Warm Up was celebrated by Cole’s longtime manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad, who took to social media to reflect on the mixtape’s significance.

“The Warm Up out now everywhere,” Hamad posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Took us 15 years but I’m so happy we’re able to get this up. This project is very special to me, shit really put Cole in the game and we ain’t look back since. Forever Grateful for this project, legit changed n-ggaz lives forever.” Fans quickly embraced the announcement, which highlighted the tape’s pivotal role in launching Cole’s career.

The mixtape’s release coincided with the third episode of Cole’s audio series Inevitable, which dives into the behind-the-scenes journey of the artist’s rise to fame. The series also explores the rollout of The Warm Up, offering fans a deeper look into its creation and the challenges Cole faced on his path to stardom.

Just days before, Cole had released The Come Up, his 2007 mixtape, to streaming services. The commercial launch of the project was paired with the first episode of Inevitable, which delves into the origins of Cole’s career. Hamad also shared his excitement over The Come Up’s release, writing, “17 years later. Better late than never. My brother @realcoleworld The Come Up out now on all DSP. This shit really started everything off… I’m about to shed a baby tear I’ll be back.”

The Come Up, which features tracks like “School Daze,” “Simba,” and “Dollar and a Dream,” is known for borrowing beats from hip-hop legends like Nas, JAY-Z, and Kanye West. The mixtape was a defining moment for Cole, giving listeners a glimpse into his early style and lyricism.

Both mixtapes are part of Inevitable, a 10-part audio series that chronicles Cole’s career from his humble beginnings to his rise as one of hip-hop’s biggest stars. Season 1 of Inevitable will focus on Cole’s journey up to the release of 2014 Forest Hills Drive, providing an unfiltered look at his personal and professional evolution.

In the series, Cole, along with Hamad and collaborator Scott Lazer, reflects on the many hurdles he faced in pursuit of his dreams, using both released and unreleased music to guide the narrative. As the series progresses, listeners will get an inside look at how Cole navigated the rap industry and overcame the challenges that came with fame.

With The Warm Up and The Come Up now streaming, fans have even more access to the early material that helped shape J. Cole into the artist he is today. As he continues to build on his legacy, Cole’s journey serves as a testament to perseverance, talent, and the power of hip-hop.