Dreamville rapper J. Cole is expected to ink a professional contract with the Rwanda Patriots BBC to play in the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

According to ESPN, the 36-year-old rapper, born Jermaine Lamarr Cole, arrived in Rwanda over the weekend and is under quarantine protocols in order to play in the 12-team league.

#BREAKING: American rapper J. Cole @JColeNC is in Rwanda and could feature for local side Patriots at the upcoming Basketball Africa League.

The New Times has learned he is on the club's roster for the competition. pic.twitter.com/mhHOBCAvhx

— The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) May 9, 2021

On Thursday, a day before the release of the rapper’s highly anticipated music album, his signing with the Patriots club is expected to become official. The Rwanda Patriots are slated to play in the first BAL game on Sunday against the Nigeria River Hoopers, ESPN reports.

Prior to his prodigious music career, J.Cole starred on the Sanford High School basketball team in North Carolina. He later walked on at St. John’s University but decided to pursue music.

In August 2020, the Detroit Pistons offered Cole an invitation to try out for the team. While it was never confirmed if the "Crooked Smile" rapper actually tried out for the team, Hot New Hip Hop reported that J.Cole’s manager met with the team last month. He later posted a picture from the Detroit Pistons’ state-of-the-art headquarters, thanking the organization for their hospitality.

Mike Zavodsky, Pistons' chief business officer, said in a release that J.Cole’s popularity as a music artist combined with his proven abilities on the basketball court make him an ideal partner to help expand the league’s cultural footprint.

“The NBA is a lifestyle brand. It's not just about basketball for the league. People follow it for the fashion, people follow it for the music associations. There's a variety of different reasons that people follow it in addition to just the game. It's a year-round platform that the league has created,” he said.

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