Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Entertainment Weekly	B+
Los Angeles Times
MSN Music	B+
Now
Pitchfork Media	6.1/10
Rolling Stone
Slant Magazine
Spin	8/10
XXL	XL

Cole World: The Sideline Story (commonly shortened to Cole World or The Sideline Story) is the debut studio album by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on September 27, 2011, by Roc Nation and Columbia Records, with distribution from Sony Music. The album is his first studio release, following three successful mixtapes. In 2007, the album was first recorded and ended, and then began to take place from 2009 to 2011, featuring the production that was handled mainly by Cole himself, with some production from high-profile producer No I.D. It includes features four guest appearances from Trey Songz, Drake, Jay-Z, and Missy Elliott. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with 218,000 copies sold in the first week following its release. The album has since been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As of December 2016, it sold 855,000 copies in the United States.

The album was one of the most anticipated releases of 2011 due to the sharp rise in Cole's popularity and mainstream fan base. Cole's lyrics perhaps most strikingly deal with issues such as abortion and the consequences of growing up in a fatherless household. However, these themes are incorporated alongside more introspective issues such as relationships, family problems, fame and attempting to be successful - an area which very much links in with the subtitle of the album 'The Sideline Story'. Upon its release, the album was generally well received by critics, who praised the wholesomeness of the album.

On April 25, 2011, Vibe listed him at number five on their Vibe's list of Greatest Rappers Alive 30 Under 30. J. Cole was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2011 BET Awards. On May 3, 2011, Cole stated on Twitter, "All singles done. Album ridiculous. Title Perfect. Music incredible. Thank you for your patience. Let's change the game." On June 21, 2011, Cole tweeted, "Cole World: The Sideline Story", the album's title. He then tweeted "9/27," the release date. In June 2011, he announced that the recording of the album was finished, and that the release date is set for September later that year.

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