J. Cole revealed that one of Nas’ most acclaimed songs off Life is Good was originally intended for his own album, Cole World: The Sideline Story.
In an interview with MTV, Cole explained that he originally rapped over the No I.D. beat that later became Nas’ “Stay.” Cole said that he wanted the song for his debut, but due to his lack of experience in the industry, he didn’t act fast enough to purchase it.
“We did the most incredible songs in one week,” he recalled. “[No I.D.] just looped up this sample, and while he’s looping up the sample, I’m writing the words, and before you know it, I have the song. ‘Stay’ was my favorite song that was absolutely going on my first album, but I guess I’ll just chalk it up to my inexperience in the game. As time goes on, I’m not solidifying it, which basically means I’m not locking down the beat from No I.D. Long story short, I didn’t buy that beat from No I.D., and Nas bought that beat. He didn’t even know I did a joint on it either. I don’t even know if he knows, but I had that shit first. That taught me a lesson real quick: If you want a record, you have to put some money down on it. I heard Nas’ joint one time, and I can’t listen again. It’s hard for me. It’s rightfully his record, he put it out first, and he killed it too, but I can’t listen.”
J. Cole added that the same thing happened to him with the beat for Rick Ross’ “Tears of Joy,” which was also produced by No I.D. However, Cole says he feels no remorse for losing the track, as Ross’ version is superior to his.
“The same thing happened with ‘Tears of Joy.’ I smacked myself,” he said. “That’s two classics that was supposed to be mine. But ‘Tears of Joy,’ I couldn’t have did what Ross did on that, because [I] was in a bad place. Me and No I.D. was in the studio, but the label was on me about some hits, so it was a bad session. I squeezed out a verse on ‘Tears of Joy,’ but I was not in a good place to do anything close to what Ross did on that. But I still smack myself about those.”
J. Cole is currently working on his sophomore LP Born Sinner, which was initially expected to drop this past January. He also released an EP earlier this month, titled Truly Yours.
Check out the full interview below.
Get More: J. Cole, Music News
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Early bird gets that worm.
That’s too bad, but Nas did a solid on that track I have a hard time believing Cole could do the beat more justice than Nas.
he dropped it on his ep recently.. he outdid nas surprisingly.
@ayo….keep dreamin
Nah bruh. Cole was consistent on it, but Nas spit a legendary verse. He had the internal rhyme patterns, and way more thought provoking shit. I fuck with J Cole but we’ve heard him touch these similar topics before about relationships with women. Good Cole verses but I’ve better from him. Nas’s verses were just ridiculous
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder
What the fuck you talking about, nigga?
J. Cole said he wasn’t in a good place for Tears of Joy… When your in a good place, you are more inspired for a record like Tears of Joy… Gotta admit Ross did his thing on that one….
It don’t matter… Cole will still deliver on his upcoming ish… can’t wait… it’s finna be a cole (cold) ass summer)… or whenever it eventually drops..
Peace.
Cyhi’s mixtape is where I’ve heard it first and that song was called whoopie doo (I think) and his was better and longer.
Cole is really gearing up to have a great album!! PowerTrip is a amazing record http://smarturl.it/J.ColePowerTrip
I liked Nas on “Stay” better than Cole’s version. They both did their thing though, but Esco’s was on another level