Interscope Records, in collaboration with J. Cole’s Dreamville imprint, has launched pre-orders for the alternative cover vinyl of his critically acclaimed album 2014 Forest Hills Drive. Limited to just 2,014 copies, this special edition is available for one purchase per customer, with shipments scheduled for December 6. It’s expected that a digital deluxe version of the album will also be released around the same time on streaming platforms.
Released in 2014, 2014 Forest Hills Drive marked Cole’s third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. The 13-track project featured some of his most memorable songs, including “No Role Modelz,” “Wet Dreamz,” “Love Yourz,” and “G.O.M.D.” It famously sparked the “platinum with no features” meme, as Cole handled much of the production himself, with contributions from collaborators like Omen, Ron Gilmore, and Cardiak.
In an interview with NPR, Cole revealed that the album originally began as a double album, but he made the difficult decision to cut several tracks. He also reflected on the unconventional release strategy, noting the challenge of convincing his record label to drop an album with no singles, minimal promotion, and a three-week lead-up.
Earlier this month, Friday Night Lights and The Warm Up were finally made available on streaming services, offering fans a nostalgic look at his earlier work. The re-release of his 2010 mixtape coincided with the fifth episode of his “Inevitable” audio series, marking a special milestone in Cole’s career. While he also previewed the high-quality versions of early collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, including “Temptation” and “Shock the World,” it’s unclear if those will be reissued in the same way.