Rapper, athlete and businessman J.Cole has become the first artist featured on the NBA 2k cover. The Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum hip-hop artist will even be able to include some of Dreamville’s feature talent, Bas and Elite. J.Cole’s historic cover was announced ahead of the Sept. 9 launch of the game.
“NBA 2K has long been a place to discover new musical talent through their game and continues to be a gold standard for showcasing all things basketball culture,” said J. Cole in a statement. He will be the cover star for the NBA 2K23 DREAMER Edition which is being released for PlayStation® 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Fans will be able to purchase the game exclusively at GameStop stores in the U.S. and Canada.
J.Cole will be in the MyCareer mode of the upcoming game and Bas and Elite will “help players befriend J. Cole and capture the hearts and minds of The City,” according to 2K. The all-new MyCAREER experience in NBA® 2K23 on Next Gen is expected to include the largest and most involved storyline in franchise history. It is set to begin after the NBA Draft and shows the balance players must create to juggle their NBA performance and careers off the court.
The rapper noted, “It’s been an amazing journey to not only appear on a cover of this year’s game, but to be part of the MyCAREER storyline, soundtrack and bring the DREAMER brand into NBA 2K.” Fans will hear a “collection of globally renowned artists” on the soundtrack, and three new songs will be released every Friday, according to the gaming company. Artists will include Polo G, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow and more.
Alfie Brody, the Vice President of Global Marketing Strategy at NBA 2K stated that “the sheer scale, depth and talent featured in this year’s MyCAREER creates an unparalleled experience within NBA 2K23.” J.Cole was seen as the “first cover star who truly sits at the intersection of basketball and music.” Although many fans know the “No Role Modelz” rapper for his lyrics and songs, he also spent some time on the basketball court.
J.Cole played pro basketball with the Rwanda Patriots of the Basketball Africa League for three preliminary games in 2021. He also signed with the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League in May of 2022 and played four games before taking a leave to focus on his touring schedule.
