North Carolina rapper J. Cole has partnered with a Monster Jam monster truck driver who ran a “sponsors needed” Pro Late Model at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May. Yes, that is a real sentence, and this is a real thing that is happening. 

Camden Murphy is the driver of the “Classroom Crusher” monster truck in Monster Jam. “Monster Jam Cam” as he is known, began his career with dreams of NASCAR, even racing in the Xfinity Series nearly a decade ago before pivoting to monster trucks. 

Back in May, Murphy raced a Pro Late Model in zMAX CARS Tour competition at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Murphy had no partners on the car, so instead of leaving every space of the car completely blank he put “sponsors needed” on the hood and quarter panels. 

Fast-forward a month and now Murphy’s car says “Dreamer” on it, which is J. Cole’s brand. Murphy announced the partnership on Thursday night on his Facebook page.

“Two years ago I met (J. Cole) at Monster Jam and shared my story,” wrote Murphy. “Being a part of Monster Jam is one of the greatest honors of my lifetime. It has given me a stage, a fanbase, and a chance to live a dream I never saw coming.

“But even as I poured everything into this sport, my NASCAR dream never left me. It stayed with me, through every setback, every sacrifice. I’d sweep floors, sleep in cars, do whatever it took to be on the track. No sponsors. No guarantees. Just that feeling in my gut that I have the talent to do both, and to do it at the highest level.

“That story resonated with J. Cole and Dreamer,” continued Murphy on Facebook. “And what followed was belief, quiet support, and a shared understanding of what it means to chase something people think is out of reach. Grateful for the people who believe in the dream, even when the odds are stacked.”

The Itasca, Illinois native has made seven NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and 29 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts dating back to 2014. In his return to circle track racing this year, Murphy started on the pole and finished ninth in a Pro Late Model race at Flat Rock Speedway in Michigan. He scored a top 10 with an eighth-place finish in a Super Late Model with the ASA STARS National Tour at Hickory Motor Speedway last month.

J. Cole is a multi-platinum rapper from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He has three albums that have achieved platinum status, and he has two singles that have reached diamond status. J. Cole started his own record label, Dreamville Records, in 2007, and his “The Dreamville Foundation” in 2011, which was created to “bridge the gap between the worlds of opportunity and the urban youth.”

J. Cole teased his “Dreamer Indie 5000” sneakers a year ago, but they still have yet to be released. The Indie 5000 would be J. Cole’s return to the sneaker game following his departure from a partnership with Puma a few years ago.