Thousands attend hometown show that blended hits with hometown pride
FAYETTEVILLE — Nearly 9,000 fans filled the Crown Coliseum on Sept. 23 for what unfolded as a full-throated homecoming for Fayetteville native Jermaine Cole, known worldwide as J. Cole. The performance, the final stop on the U.S. leg of his "Fall-Off Tour," was a sold-out, high-energy event that threaded the rapper's national success back to the local stages and streets where he grew up.
From the start, Cole made the evening about more than a set list. He told the crowd he had once crossed the same stage to receive his Terry Sanford High School diploma and framed the show as a marker of two long-held dreams: to reach the top of hip-hop and to see his "itty-bitty city" on the map.
"I wanted to see what the top of this rap s--- felt like, Fayetteville," he said, later adding that he had wanted to "put my itty-bitty city on the (expletive) map!"
Those declarations drew sustained cheers and underscored the emotional tenor of the night, which mixed celebration with nostalgia. Fans reported surprise moments, including when Cole entered the arena through the stands, greeting people along the aisles before taking the stage. Seats in the lower bowl had been stocked with tour-branded towels, which were waved en masse during a sing-along segment that became one of the evening's most visually striking moments.
Music, surprises and local connections
The set included crowd favorites and deeper cuts, but one surprise highlighted Cole's ties to North Carolina hip-hop history. During a performance of "Old Dog," which features Raleigh native Petey Pablo on the chorus, Cole brought Petey Pablo onto the stage to deliver his state anthem "Raise Up," a 2001 hit that paid tribute to North Carolina. The pairing produced one of the night’s biggest audience reactions and triggered a stadium-wide wave of towel spinning that amplified the communal feel of the show.
Cole’s stagecraft mixed kinetic movement with moments spent in the crowd; he stalked the stage with muscular energy and, at times, moved through sections to engage directly with fans. The performance marked his return to Fayetteville more than a decade after his last hometown show, a fact that was not lost on attendees who described the night as both triumphant and intimate.
- Attendance: Roughly 9,000 (sold-out Crown Coliseum).
- Special guest: Petey Pablo joined during a performance of "Old Dog."
- Local ties: Cole referenced graduating from Terry Sanford High School and his aim to elevate Fayetteville's profile.
Local economic and cultural ripple effects
Large concerts such as this generate immediate economic activity for downtown Fayetteville and surrounding neighborhoods — from parking and concessions at the Coliseum to local restaurants and hotels that serve concertgoers traveling in for the show. While precise economic figures for the event were not released, event promoters and local business owners typically report higher foot traffic and sales during sold-out arena shows.
Culturally, the event reaffirmed Fayetteville's role as a launching pad for national talent. By openly linking his career ambitions to his Fayetteville upbringing, Cole put a national spotlight back on the city and its musical legacy. The Petey Pablo appearance served as a reminder of the broader North Carolina hip-hop scene that preceded Cole's rise.
Community response and perspectives
Attendees described the evening in social media posts and in conversations outside the Coliseum as a milestone for the city. The atmosphere ranged from nostalgic to euphoric; long-time fans compared the night to earlier local shows, while younger attendees experienced Cole’s hometown energy for the first time.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Venue | Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville |
| Artist | J. Cole (Jermaine Cole) |
| Notable guest | Petey Pablo |
| Attendance | Approximately 9,000 (sold out) |
The show closed out the U.S. leg of Cole’s tour and left a clear impression on the hometown crowd: an artist who rose from local classrooms and community stages to international success returned to celebrate those roots. For a night, Fayetteville was both backdrop and headliner.
Reporting for WE NEWS will continue to monitor local cultural events and their impact on Fayetteville’s economy and civic life.
