''The Come Up Mixtape Vol. 1'' (simply known as ''The Come Up'') is the debut

mixtape In the modern music industry, a mixtape is a musical project, typically with looser constraints than that of an album or extended play. Unlike the traditional album or extended play, mixtapes are labeled as laid-back projects that allow artists mo ...

by rapper J. Cole released on May 4, 2007, hosted by DJ OnPoint. The mixtape was downloaded and streamed over 500,000 times, while being viewed over 1,800,000 times on the mixtape site DatPiff. On November 19, 2024, the mixtape was re-released onto streaming platforms, accompanying the first episode release of Cole's audio podcast series ''Inevitable'', which focused on this mixtape. The streaming release omits a few tracks including "Throw It Up", "Mighty Crazy", "Get It" and "I Do My Thing".

Background

J. Cole self-produced 12 out of the 21 tracks on the mixtape, including his debut single, called "Simba", for which Cole shot his first

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

. The mixtape also features the samples from American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...

s such as

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer and record producer. One of the most prominent figures in hip-hop, he is known for his varying musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After ...

Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air (S ...

Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American Rapping, rapper, businessman, and record executive. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he was named Billboard and Vibe's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, the ...

and

Ghostface Killah Dennis David Coles (born May 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of ''Enter the Wu-Tang ...

, among others, while the tape includes

guest appearance The term guest appearance generally denotes the appearance of a guest in an artistic or pop-culture setting. The guests themselves (referred to as guest artists, featured artists, guest stars, or guest fighters, depending on context), are disting ...

s from Deacon and Nervous Reck.Freeload: J. Cole, “Heartache” + The Come Up Mixtape « The FADER
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Track listing

All tracks are written and produced by Jermaine Cole except where noted. ;Sample credits *"I'm the Man" samples "You're da Man" by

. *"School Dayz" samples "Ghetto" by Smitty featuring Scarface,

, and

John Legend John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He began his musical career working behind the scenes for other artists, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's " Every ...

. *"Dollar and a Dream" samples "Mom Praying" by

Beanie Sigel Dwight Equan Grant (born March 6, 1974), better known by his stage name Beanie Sigel, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is best known for his association with Jay-Z and his label Roc-A-Fella Records, to which Grant signed ...

featuring Scarface. *"Quote Me" samples "Where Y'all At" by

. *"College Boy" samples "Came Back for You" by

Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper. She was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after ...

. *"The Come Up" samples "Grammy Family" by Consequence featuring

DJ Khaled Khaled Mohammed Khaled (; born November 26, 1975), known professionally as DJ Khaled, is an American DJ and record producer. Originally a Miami-based radio personality, Khaled has since become known for enlisting high-profile music industry ar ...

, Kanye West, and John Legend. *"Mighty Crazy" samples "Mighty Healthy" by

. *"Dead Presidents" samples "

Dead Presidents ''Dead Presidents'' is a 1995 American crime film co-written, produced and directed by the Hughes brothers, Hughes Brothers. The film chronicles the life of Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate), focusing on his teenage years as a high school graduate a ...

" by

. *"Homecoming" samples "My Way Home" by Kanye West featuring

Common Common may refer to: As an Irish surname, it is anglicised from Irish Gaelic surname Ó Comáin. Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Com ...

. *"Carolina On My Mind" samples "We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue" by

Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Dubbed the " Gentle Genius", he is considered one of the most influential musicians of soul and socially conscious Afric ...

. *"Can't Cry" samples " (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" by Millie Jackson. *"Goin' Off" samples "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by

The Controllers Controller may refer to: Occupations * Controller or financial controller, or in government accounting comptroller, a senior accounting position * Controller, someone who performs agent handling in espionage * Air traffic controller, a person w ...

. *"Rags to Riches" samples "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" by

Roy Ayers Roy Edward Ayers Jr. (September 10, 1940 – March 4, 2025) was an American vibraphonist, record producer, and composer. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several studio albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure ...

References

External links

J. ColeThe Come Up
{{DEFAULTSORT:Come Up Debut mixtape albums J. Cole mixtape albums Albums produced by J. Cole 2007 mixtape albums Dreamville Records mixtape albums