Rapper J. Cole signs with Chinese league's Nanjing Monkey Kings - ESPN

Rap megastar J. Cole has signed a contract to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Nanjing Monkey Kings, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

The multi-Grammy-Award-winning and multi-Platinum artist had committed to playing a few games for the Chinese team last year and is now following through.

This is the third time Cole, whose full name is Jermaine Cole, has played in a professional sports league. He played with the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022.

He played high school basketball in North Carolina.

Cole won a Grammy in 2020 for Best Rap Song («A Lot» by 21 Savage featuring J. Cole) and has several BET Hip Hop Awards to his name. He also has six Platinum albums and has produced songs for artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson and Young Thug.

His latest album, «The Fall-Off,» was released in February.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.