J. Cole recently sat down with Muve Music Sessions to reflect on a few cuts from his debut Cole World: The Sideline Story. In the first episode of the series, the Roc Nation rapper spoke on recording “Can’t Get Enough” featuring Trey Songz, explaining why he helmed a party track instead of solely producing more emotional fare.
“That’s another side of my artistry that I feel like people might not recognize it much because my emotional stuff is so good. People might not understand or realize that I can also do that stuff very well,” he said. “The more commercial stuff, or just the fun, carefree raps. Not every rap has to be about life and about some deeper meaning. Because that wouldn’t be realistic to make people think that I wake up every day and there’s a problem on my mind and that I don’t go to the club and I’m not interested in women and I’m not an alcoholic – I’m not an alcoholic, by the way. But that I don’t drink or whatever the case is. I’d hate to not portray that side of me. So that’s what ‘Can’t Get Enough’ is, portraying that.”
He also touched on “In the Morning” featuring Drake, reflecting on recording the song in his apartment several years ago. He said that he was behind on rent when he laid down the song, but that his landlord had enough faith in his skills as a rapper that he let it slide.
“‘In the Morning’ is super old, I did that in my bedroom, man, at my old crib. And at the time I recorded that song, I owed about $6,000 in rent. But I had a cool landlord and he really believed in me and he was letting my bills stack up because he really thought I was going to make it as a rapper, and he was right. What’s up, Muhammad? But ‘In the Morning,’ I recorded in that crib.”
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Watch the full interview below.
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