Realistic narrative is expected with great rappers, but multiple GRAMMY nominee J. Cole is seeking a whole new level of realism and storytelling with his documentaries about life as he experienced it growing up in rural North Carolina.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lDGAY6ockAk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Following up on his 4 Your Eyez Only documentary that captured his personal experiences traveling through the South, Cole has now signed on to executive produce Bertie County, a film scheduled to air on PBS POV on Aug. 28.
The work of director/producer Margaret Byrne, Raising Bertie will spotlight three African-American boys — Bud, Dada and Junior — growing into adulthood in rural Bertie County as they look to find themselves and rise above generational poverty, educational inequity and systemic racism.
"The truth is, I made a film about three kids I met and cared about," said Byrne. "I knew their story needed telling. The individuals in this story are representative of their community and they matter."
In addition to his film work, J. Cole has also shown his local commitment via his Dreamville Foundation, which is dedicated to helping disadvantaged urban youth, particularly in his childhood community of Fayetteville.
