Signs missing from Forest Hills Drive, where J. Cole grew up

Six  of the 10 street signs on Forest Hills Drive in Fayetteville, where rapper J. Cole grew up, are missing.

Could some overeager Cole fans be at fault?

Cole, who released his fifth studio album, "KOD," on April 20, named his third studio album, "2014 Forest Hills Drive," after the address of his childhood home.

The address also is referenced in his HBO special, "J. Cole Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming,” filmed during his sold-out 2015 show at the Crown Coliseum. The concert was a huge hit, featuring guest appearances by Drake and Cole's mentor Jay Z.

City officials say they have had to replace the signs on Forest Hills Drive on 51 occasions. Signs first went missing starting in December 2014, the same month "2014 Forest Hills Drive" was released; 17 signs were taken that month. Signs were stolen in June, August, October and November 2015, January and February 2016, and in May of this year, the city said.

The total cost to replace all 51 signs is estimated at $2,721, with sign-related materials costing $1,582, labor costing $733 and equipment costing $406.

The Forest Hills Drive street signs at Cain Road and Woodberry Lane remain up as of Friday, while the ones at Briarwood Lane, Mulberry Street and Woodleaf Lane are missing.

Cole, who graduated from Terry Sanford High School, recently announced that his inaugural Dreamville Festival will be held Sept. 15 in Raleigh's Dorothea Dix Park.

Digital editor Beth Hutson can be reached at bhutson@fayobserver.com or 486-3533.

MAP OF FOREST HILLS DRIVE: