Rap artists to perform at O’Connell Center Feb. 27

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Student Government Productions at the University of Florida will present rappers J. Cole and Chance the Rapper at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 in the O’Connell Center.

Students can purchase tickets at the O’Connell Center Box Office located at Gate 1. Floor and Level 1 tickets are $30 each; Level 2 and 3 tickets are $15  each. Students can purchase up to four tickets with a Gator 1 card. The general public can purchase tickets at the same location, but prices are $10 higher for Level 1 and $5 higher for Levels 2 and 3. Tickets can be purchsaed at www.ticketmaster.com also, but additional fees may apply.

After being signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label in 2009, J. Cole has paved his way through the rap industry and the mainstream music circuit, establishing himself as one of  the most respected rap lyricists of his time. His two albums, “Cole  World: The Sideline Story” and “Born Sinner,” have each earned the number one spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

J. Cole has received widespread recognition for his work including a Grammy nomination in 2012 for Best New Artist, Best Mixtape at the BET Hip Hop Awards in 2011, as well  as platinum-status  for his hit-single “Work Out.”  In January, he released  a label compilation mixtape  titled “Revenge  of the Dreamers” after signing a distribution deal with Interscope Records.

As an independent artist, Chance The Rapper has  taken the rap industry by storm and has been called one of “10  New Chicago Rappers to Watch Out For” by Complex Magazine. His  first   mixtape, ”10 Day,” was featured in Forbes Magazine,  leading  him  to be  the opening  act of Childish Gambino’s 2012 national  tour. He has continued to breakthrough the industry with his  second mixtape, “Acid  Rap,” which became certified platinum on Datpiff after being downloaded over 250,000 times and was nominated for Best Mixtape at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards.