J. Cole talks likelihood of Jay-Z collaboration

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

When Roc Nation was established in 2008, J. Cole was signed as the label's first artist. Initially, fans assumed the debut album from J. Cole would be released in 2009. When his "Lights Please" single was released, this built more hype. However, it was soon revealed the song was from one of his mixtapes.

Before the summer of 2010, J. Cole released his "Who Dat" single, which gained a music video and play on BET. Despite all the publicity, still no album came from J. Cole. Soon, "Who Dat" lost steam and the label shifted their focus to Willow Smith. For a little while, it seemed as if J. Cole had been backburnered for her.

However, at the start of 2011, J. Cole announced he would release his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, before the end of the year. With the summer winding down, J. Cole is preparing the album for a September 27 release. From the beginning, J. Cole said he wanted to do a song with Jay-Z, but yesterday, he said the song may not make the album.

Now, J. Cole said the collaboration may not happen at all. Several songs have leaked from J. Cole and they have been named the first single off the album. It remains to be seen which songs will make the album. Most recently, it was stated that "Lights Please," "In the Morning," "Work Out," and "Lost Ones" will end up being on the album. But, such songs as "Who Dat," "Killer," and "Disgusting" probably will not make the final cut of the album.