Words by Ian McAdams

Happy birthday, J. Cole and J. Cole fans!

The newly 31-year-old hip-hop artist unexpectedly dropped hip-hop’s first major live album in over a decade, and it’s the perfect gift for fans old and new. The 13-track album, which is predominantly a live version of his incredible 2015 release Forest Hills Drive, was recorded at J. Cole’s sold-out hometown show in Fayetteville, NC last fall. It includes both tracks from its Grammy-nominated namesake and a captivating interlude that guides listeners through a selection of his early hits.

The show was also part of an HBO special documenting J. Cole’s career and saw appearances from the likes of Drake and Jay-Z.

This isn’t Cole’s first surprise in recent weeks. During an interview celebrating Martin Luther King Day, director Ryan Coogler accidentally let it slip that Cole was officially off the market, wed to longtime girlfriend Melissa Heholt.

Let’s hope there are even more surprises in store throughout 2016!

You can listen to the album here.