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Lil Yachty and J. Cole Share Video for New Song “The Secret Recipe”: Watch

By Matthew Strauss

Lil Yachty and J. Cole have come together for the new song and music video “ The Secret Recipe .” Check out the new video, directed by Lil Yachty and AMD Visuals , below.

While “The Secret Recipe” is J. Cole and Lil Yachty’s first collaborative song, the rappers share a bit of a history. In 2011 and 2012, when he was 14 years old, Lil Yachty tweeted a number of anti-Cole remarks , such as, “ i just dont like j.cole.... never said he wasnt good ,” and, “ FUCKJCOLE. ”

Years later, in 2016, Lil Yachty discussed the tweets in an interview , “I honestly can’t explain it. I don’t know why. Back in the day, I was heavy on saying, ‘Fuck J. Cole.’ I don’t know why. His music is so lyrical—let me clear this up.”

He continued, “I fuck with J. Cole as a person. I don’t listen to J. Cole. But I have nothing against J. Cole. I was young, and I was just talking shit, trolling. I never thought I was gonna be a rapper.”

Yachty concluded, “I have no issues with J. Cole or his music, and if we ever bump into each other, I don’t wanna any problems.”

Later, in December 2016, J. Cole released the song “ Everybody Dies ,” featuring the following lyrics:

Clap at the fake deep rappers The OG gatekeep rappers The would-you-take-a-break-please rappers Bunch of words and ain’t sayin’ shit, I hate these rappers ’Specially the amateur eight-week rappers Lil’ whatever, just another short-bus rapper Fake drug dealers turn tour bus trappers

The “Lil’ whatever” lyric, in particular, led many to believe that J. Cole was dissing Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert. After hearing the song, Lil Yachty said , “Honestly, I don’t give a fuck. I fuck with J. Cole, bro! I don’t listen to J. Cole, but I fuck with J. Cole.” He also brought up his teenage tweets and said, “I hope that he doesn’t feel any type of way.”

Lil Uzi Vert also responded to “Everybody Dies,” tweeting , “Heard some beautiful shit today @JColeNC 🔥💯. 😈®.” J. Cole, incidentally, recently collaborated with Lil Uzi Vert, co-producing the “ Blood Moon .”

“The Secret Recipe” follows Lil Yachty’s latest studio album, Let’s Start Here. , and J. Cole’s 2021 album, The Off-Season .

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By Jazz Monroe

Lil Yachty on His Rock Album ‘Let’s Start Here,’ Rapping With J. Cole, and What’s Next

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

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Nowhere in the rap star manual does it say that a guaranteed formula for success is to “make psychedelic rock album with almost no rapping.” Yet that is exactly what Lil Yachty did with “Let’s Start Here,” his fifth full album but first rock project, after years as a top rapper with hits like “One Night,” “Minnesota,” “Oprah’s Bank Account” and guest spots on Kyle’s smash “iSpy,” Dram’s “Broccoli,” Calvin Harris’ “Faking It” and others.

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, the day after the Central Park show, Yachty, 26 — clad in an orange button-down, camo shorts and fuzzy pink slides, with elaborately painted nails — sat down with Variety to talk about the album, the tour, his new song with J. Cole, plans for the hip-hop album he’s already recorded, and what’s coming next.

Are these the first dates you’re playing behind this new album?

I did three festivals, so it’s not the first time ever, but it’s the first time I’ve gotten to play them how I want to — in the dark, at night, in the proper setting, not at a festival at like 6 p.m. With a [full set] I can really stretch it out and make it interesting.

At the album listening session, people did not seem to know what to think.

You said the people you played the album for included Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator — all of whom have made moves something like that in the past.

I’ll tell you, Tyler was a big reason for this album. He’ll call me at like eight o’clock in the morning — for no reason — and we’ll talk for hours. I was such a fan of [Tyler’s Grammy-winning 2019 album] “Igor,” his character and his way of creating a world — the color palettes, the videos, the billboards, the fonts. It’s all together. And I was like “How do you do that?” Because I was trying to figure out how to make a pop-funk-psychedelic-rock album cohesive, without it sounding like someone’s playlist. Then I started working on the visuals, and what I wanted to do was extremely expensive. To be quite honest, I don’t think my label believed in it enough to give me the budget that I truly needed for the visuals to bring this album to life, so I just made two videos.

Tyler and Drake both called me before my first show — I didn’t even tell them the show was happening but they both called me. That means something to me, because those people are my idols. I remember the day Kanye tweeted [Tyler’s 2011 single] “Yonkers,” I was in eighth grade. So them checking on me means a lot.

Is it a lonely feeling, sticking your neck out creatively like that?

Yeah, at first it was, but another thing Tyler taught me was not to be afraid of that. I was so scared before those first shows, like, “What if they don’t wanna hear it?” Tyler would always say, “Fuck it, make them feel you.”

Like, on the first show of this tour, I told the [sound crew], “Play psychedelic music before I go on, don’t play hip-hop” — but right before I went on they played a Playboi Carti song and I heard the crowd turning up and I was like, “Oh no, they’re gonna hate me!” And when I came out, I have in-ears [onstage monitors] and I have them set so you can’t really hear the crowd, it’s like dead silence. But I just kept going, and then my rap set comes and they go fucking crazy and that gives me confidence, and when I did the big rock outro on “Black Seminole,” they all started clapping. And for me it was the biggest “Oh, thank God,” because I couldn’t tell if they were fucking with it.

Is it exciting being in such a risky place creatively?

No! [Laughter] Absolutely not! Maybe it is if you’re an established artist — and I’m an established artist, but something I battle with in hip-hop is that I’m just now starting to get respect as a rapper. You know, for the longest time I’ve had to deal with, like, “SoundCloud rapper,” “mumble rapper,” “one-hit wonder,” so I never really felt like I just was respected.

You were a teenager.

I was on psychedelics when I first heard it and I would listen and just be like maaan. Like, bro, how can music make me feel like this? How can music make my brain just go to a new dimension? And how did you do that in 1973? I was like, can I do this? And obviously my answer was no. I mean, no offense, but how many rappers successfully made a rock album?

Almost none.

That’s what I’m saying. I think one of them was Kid Cudi’s rock album — I love it but a lot of people hated it. It’s not a full rock album, but it has a strong rock element to it.

Where did the rock influences come from, your parents?

My dad played a lot of Coldplay, a lot of Radiohead, John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz, a lot of John Coltrane, and I’m named after Miles Davis. My family loved James Brown, my dad loved Pharrell. He actually didn’t play Pink Floyd to me, but I’m glad I heard it as an adult.

I tried to make “Let’s Start Here” five years ago — “Lil Boat 2” was supposed to be “Let’s Start Here” with teenage emotions, but I was too young. I got too nervous to experiment on my rap record, and I didn’t have much experience or knowledge in alternative music. I met [“Let’s Start Again” collaborator] Jeremiah Raisan and tried again with the next album, but I chickened out and made another rap album. But when I had that conversation with Tyler, I was like “I’ve gotta do this, let me get that guy back.”

You had a hit with “Poland” — why isn’t it on the album?

That’s what I battled with, but at some point, you have to trust yourself. In the middle of making the album, “Poland” was a huge Internet hit and people were like, “You gotta put it on the album.” But I was like, it doesn’t fit! Just because it’s a hit record doesn’t mean it makes sense anywhere on this record. I was so focused on making my Black “Dark Side of the Moon.” And there is a small rap verse on the album, at the end of “Drive Me Crazy.”

You’ve said you recorded a hip-hop album after you finished “Let’s Start Here,” what’s it like?

Sick stuff, it’s all over the place. In maybe a week or two, off the record, I’m gonna drop a song with J Cole [“The Secret Recipe”]. It’s so left, because we’re just rapping. Me trying to keep up with J Cole sounds like a death sentence [laughter], but I’m rapping my ass off, trying to keep up. It’s almost like he was trying to give me a whooping.

What do you want to do next?

I get off tour around Christmas, and in January I’m starting a new album. I don’t know what it is yet, I don’t want to say “alternative.” I have rap album, but I just decided I’m gonna keep dropping songs [from it] until my next [non-rap] album is done.

Do you know who you want to work with on the next album?

I’ve just been exploring, doing things that people wouldn’t expect. Even if I’m not the best at something, let’s just try, let’s explore, let’s create new things.

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Lil Yachty has been making his case for hottest rapper all 2023. Following the release of the psychedelic Let’s Start Here. , he continued to make waves with a string of unorthodox, oft-melodic drops like “Strike (Holster),” “SOLO STEPPIN CRETE BOY,” and “ TESLA ,” all of which were subsequently added to an untitled EP upon release.

On Friday (Sept. 29), Yachty kept the pattern going with “The Secret Recipe,” a collaboration with J. Cole that the Atlanta talent produced alongside Rawbone and 98K. In spite of his North Carolinian counterpart’s rewind-worthy bars, Lil’ Boat more than managed to hold his own with a flurry of off-kilter rhymes centered around his lifestyle, detractors, and natural ability when it comes to music:

“I speak on what I need, I foresee everything I want, I block out anything I hate and still the hardest, still unpaid, the notice went unseen, the tenants too relaxed, the standards have collapsed, they wrote me in with lames, they treat me like I’m them, the hate I overcame, refuse to pat my back, refuse to shake my hand, refuse to give me props when I am not around, refuse to act like I ain’t shift the sound, like I ain’t push the culture, like several vultures ain’t come after me…”

The track also boasts a simple-yet-effective clip that was shot by AMD Visuals and shows the artists in an empty theater. Following Yachty ‘s verse from the stage, the camera quickly pans to Cole in the stands before both casually walk off-screen.

Back in September, Yachty kicked off “The Field Trip Tour” with a wealth of supporting acts, including Draft Day, DC2TRILL, KARRAHBOOO, CAMO!, Nick Hakim, and more. The QC -signed star will continue his run through a wealth of big cities in North America and Europe until coming to a close in Austria this December.

Lil Yachty & J. Cole Join Forces On First Collaboration 'The Secret Recipe'

By Tony M. Centeno

September 29, 2023

J. Cole and Lil Yachty stunned the world with their impressive collaboration. On Thursday night, September 28, Lil Boat dropped the music video for his new single "The Secret Recipe" featuring J. Cole. The video begins with the Atlanta native rapping his verse over the jazzy instrumental, which is produced by Rawbone and Yachty himself, as he sits on a stage in front of drum set. Once he finishes, the camera pans over to Cole who's the only one seated in the audience. "Cole and Yachty, comin' for they respect, come and pay your debt/Just like a travel pillow, we at your neck for the way you slept," Cole raps.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by CONCRETE BOY BOAT^ (@lilyachty)

"This nuance but I see hella influence in the way you dress," he continues. "The way you sound, the way you try to move/You try to stay abreast on all the latest flows and the latest tones from generation next." This is the first time Yachty and Cole have ever connected on wax. Shortly after the song dropped, Cole took to Instagram to offer his thoughts on the record. He acknowledged Yachty's sonic evolution over the past few years and even requested to join him on his podcast. "Boat going crazy, waking the whole world up this year @lilyachty Lemme do the podcast 🙏🏾🙏🏾" Cole wrote.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cole World (@realcoleworld)

Lil Yachty has been on a roll since he kicked off the year with his experimental album Let's Start Here . Since then, the "Poland" rapper has come through with several notable bangers like "Strike (Holster)," "Slide" and his most recent track "Tesla." His latest single comes just a week after Yachty kicked off his "Field Trip Tour" featuring his all-female band. Watch the video for Lil Yachty and J. Cole's new song below. WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

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J. Cole Teams Up with Lil Yachty for New Song “The Secret Recipe”

by Thomas Galindo September 29, 2023, 3:29 pm

Lil Yachty ‘s 2023 just keeps getting better and better. Out of nowhere on Thursday night (September 28), the Atlanta-bred MC released a new song exclusively on YouTube titled “The Secret Recipe.” Including a feature from J. Cole, making for their first-ever collaboration, Yachty’s new offering consists of solely two verses, where both artists attack the beat with ferocity.

Videos by American Songwriter

Yachty opens the first half of the track with a glistening, massive chip on his shoulder, calling out unnamed skeptics for never giving him the credit he deserves.

The standards have collapsed, they wrote me in with lames They treat me like I’m them, they hate I overcame Refuse to pat my back, refuse to shake my hand Refuse to give me props when I am not around Refuse to act like I ain’t shift the sound, like I ain’t push the culture

Next, over the saxophone-infused production, Cole steps onto the recording with the justifiable confidence of a seasoned veteran, which he certainly is at this stage of the game. Including his patented basketball allusions and accusations of rappers that are “fake gangsters,” Cole meets his high standards with perceived ease.

These bitches out here lookin’ like Steph on the late contest Wide open, shootin’ they shot, don’t even waste your breath I been stop fuckin’ you thots, ain’t got no patience left Save that shit for one of them niggas that rock the fake Pateks My paper stretched just like a Laker before he break a sweat Signed, the greatest yet

[RELATED: Lil Yachty Offers Insight on Drake’s ‘For All The Dogs’]

But, while much of the hip-hop community was blissfully pleased with the arrival of “The Secret Recipe,” some fans felt that one of Cole’s lyrics was meant to be a diss towards fellow rapper NBA YoungBoy. Rapping Incomin’ call, press the button, the one that say accept / He FaceTime to ask for a feature and saw the face of death , J. Cole is thought to have been sending a shot at YoungBoy, responding to a diss YB aimed at him earlier this year.

On his song “ Fuck The Industry Pt. 2 ,” released in April, YB appeared to be angry with J. Cole about the fact that he chose to do a song with Lil Durk instead of him. Considering Durk and YB have been in a years-long beef, YB likely took Cole’s decision as a firm stance on who he supports in the dispute.

J a ho, that n***a played it cold, like he was gon’ do a feature So I texted his line a muscle sign, I swear it’s gon’ be nice to meet you

However, Cole’s manager and president of his Dreamville label Ib Hamad did not see it this way. Taking to Twitter on Friday (September 29), hours after the song was added to digital streaming platforms, Hamad called Fans’ theory far-fetched.

“I’m pretty sure this is [cap emoji],” he tweeted, as “cap” is a slang term for a “lie.” “Not sure how y’all heard that cole verse and put that together, impressive.”

I’m pretty sure this is 🧢. Not sure how y’all heard that cole verse and put that together, impressive 😂. https://t.co/VxBY8B3OX5 — Ibrahim H. (@KingOfQueenz) September 29, 2023

Regardless of the mild drama, “The Secret Recipe” is the latest addition to a special run from Yachty so far this year. Including an experimental, psychedelic rock album and multiple fan-favorite songs like “ Strike (Holster) ” and “ Half Doin Dope ” with J.I.D., 2023 has seen Yachty elevate to new heights, thanks to a newfound multi-faceted sound and stellar collaborations.

Check out “The Secret Recipe” below.

Photo by Josh Brasted/FilmMagic

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WATCH: Lil Yachty and J. Cole Float All Over New Single “THE SECRET RECIPE”

A powerful fusion of talent just dropped some FIRE! Lil Yachty and J. Cole joined forces to drop a brand-new music video, “THE SECRET RECIPE.” Directed by AMD Visuals, the video is a testament to the lyrical prowess of both artists, showcasing why they’ve earned their places as highly esteemed figures in the hip-hop world, celebrated by their peers and adoring fans.

This extraordinary collaboration captures the competitive spirit of hip-hop, with Lil Yachty and J. Cole laying bare their frustrations with the rap game while highlighting their undeniable influence on the culture throughout their illustrious careers.

The release of “THE SECRET RECIPE” has sent ripples of excitement through the music community, drawing attention to the artistry and depth that underpins the genre. As fans eagerly absorb the artistic vision of these two exceptional talents, the video cements their positions as influential voices in hip-hop, further solidifying their impact on the culture.

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J. Cole Reveals He Does Not Charge for Features

“yo, bro, it’s just a bar, bro.”.

In a recent podcast of Lil Yachty ‘s A Safe Place podcast, J. Cole stopped by to discuss his collaborative process. At one point in the interview Yachty asked J. Cole how much he charges for a features.

To much of his fans’ surprise, Cole confirmed that he does features for free, “Yo, bro, it’s just a bar, bro. Like, a lot of my bars be really on point but that’s just a flex. I’m not gonna charge a ni**a $2,000 a word. I don’t even charge ni**a for the verse, I’m doing this shit because I’m inspired to do it.” Cole’s comments come shortly before Soulja Boy revealed that he charges $1 million USD for a feature. In a livestream Soulja Boy said, “If you want a verse, it’s gon’ cost you a M. You want a show, it’s gon’ cost you $100k.”

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J. Cole Previews Unreleased Song in ‘Might Delete Later, Vol. 2’ Tour Vlog: Watch

Cole also reflected on receiving conflicting advice from Jay-Z regarding his debut album.

By Michael Saponara

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J. Cole is still on the road as part of Drake’s It’s All A Blur – Big as the What? Tour , and he’s teasing more music leading into his anticipated The Fall-Off album.

The Dreamville boss unleashed the second edition of his M ight Delete Later, Vol. 2 vlog recapping his travels on Monday (March 18), which includes an unreleased track featuring Cole rapping as if his rent was overdue.

Drake’s It’s All a Blur – Big as the What? Tour With J. Cole Setlist: All the Songs They Performed…

Trending on billboard.

Another part of the Smack DVD -inspired content finds J. Cole reflecting on his early days of signing to Roc Nation circa ’09, when he wanted to just create a classic body of work no matter the commercial success.

However, Jay-Z had other ideas. “When I first signed to Jay, all I wanted to do was drop a classic. That sh– could’ve sold 3,000,” Cole reminisced. “But it’s gotta be an Illmatic . Once I signed to Jay and this n—a was like, ‘Nah, you not putting the album out until you got some f—ing hits.’

“I had to trial-and-error for a year and a half, two years. ‘Workout,’ I squeezed that sh– out last-minute. That was an unnatural space for me. Even if you listen to it, I can’t even hear that sh– back.”

Cole went on to release a pair of mixtapes ( The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights ) before delivering his Cole World: The Sideline Story debut album in 2011. The LP debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 218,000 album units sold in the first week.

Might Delete Later, Vol. 2 features cameos from plenty of Jermaine’s rap peers, including Central Cee, Drake, Benny the Butcher, Lil Yachty and meeting Sexyy Red for the first time.

There’s additional footage of Cole in the studio where he reveals there’s been “six iterations of this album” in regards to The Fall-Off , which fans can expect at some point later this year.

Watch Might Delete Later, Vol. 2 below.

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Screenshot from Lil Yachty and J. Cole’s “The Secret Recipe” video

Lil Yachty And J. Cole Unite For "The Secret Recipe" Video

After years of public tension and dismissive tweets, J. Cole and Lil Yachty united to release their new single, “The Secret Recipe.” Released today (Sept. 29), the song arrived alongside an accompanying visual and production handled by Rawbone and the Atlanta native himself.

In the opening verse, Lil Boat rapped, “The baddest h**s gon’ test the E, then blame the high for wantin’ sex. I never wanted peace, f**k all the opps, I support Malcolm X. The stack of chains is just a front. Overtaxed and underwhelming, your jeweler pulled a major stunt. I don’t smoke weed, already blunt, all of my cars, I had to hunt.”

Meanwhile, Cole picked up the latter of the song. He spat, “I probably put more n**gas on pause than Cam and Mason Betha . My agent get a whole lotta calls; it’s like he paid the ref. These b**ches out here lookin’ like Steph on the late contest. Wide open, shootin’ they shot, don’t even waste your breath.”

Watch the video below.

Fans also speculated that the North Carolina artist responded to YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s reported “F**k the Industry Pt. 2” diss. He hit back with lyrics like, “N**gas makin’ threats and I laugh, that’s ’cause you ain’t a threat. Don’t ask how I feel ’bout no rappers, s**t, they okay, I guess. Incomin’ call, press the button, the one that say accept. He FaceTime to ask for a feature and saw the face of death.”

The alleged clapback from Cole arrived on the heels of his collaboration with Lil Durk — who NBA YoungBoy was recently embroiled in a feud with — on “All My Life.” In 2021, Akademiks claimed that the hip hop mainstay waited eight hours in the studio for the Baton Rogue native, but the 23-year-old never showed up.

Moreover, Yachty wasn’t shy about expressing his distaste for the “No Role Modelz” hitmaker during his teenage years. In a series of tweets in 2011, he wrote, “I just don’t like J. Cole… Never said he wasn’t good” and even went as far as to say, “F**KJCOLE.”

i just dont like j.cole…. never said he wasnt good. — CONCRETE BOY BOAT^ (@lilyachty) October 2, 2011

@KeepIt232 FUCKJCOLE. — CONCRETE BOY BOAT^ (@lilyachty) December 20, 2011

Years later, in a 2016 interview, Yachty tried to clarify his past sentiments. “I was young, and I was just talking shit, trolling,” he admitted. “I f**k with J. Cole as a person. I don’t listen to J. Cole. But I have nothing against J. Cole. I was young, and I was just talking s**t, trolling. I never thought I was gonna be a rapper.”

The Born Sinner artist seemed to fire back later that year with his song “Everybody Dies.” He mentioned “amateur eight-week rappers” and “Lil’ whatever,” which many interpreted as a nod toward Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert. Luckily, the former’s response was refreshingly calm: “Honestly, I don’t give a f**k. I f**k with J. Cole, bro!”

Fast forward to now, and the artists have buried the hatchet. “The Secret Recipe” served as the first-ever collaborative work between the pair. 

It followed Yachty’s psychedelic rock-influenced album, Let’s Start Here , released earlier this year. For Cole, the single came after a slew of guest appearances that include Bas’ “Passport Bros” and Burna Boy’s “Thanks.”

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AFH Ambrosia for Heads

J. Cole Explains Why His New Album Is Called The Fall Off

Ambrosia For Heads

Over five years, ago, J. Cole’s acclaimed KOD included a song “1985 (‘Intro To The Fall Off’).” At the time, the song made headlines as a response song to Lil Pump and others , that defied the convention of traditional Rap disses. In the days that followed, J. Cole revealed that The Fall Off was intended to be his next album, and the song marked a pivot from an album themed around deadly trends in Rap music to something else entirely. Since then, Cole began a legendary feature run , while releasing 2021’s The Off Season , and some noteworthy loosies .

Cole, intentionally limited on press, has never said The Fall Off was not in scope. Instead, he’s fed the legend . In a new conversation with ( former critic-turned-recent collaborator ) Lil Yachty on A Safe Place Podcast , Cole opened up about his plans, and the genesis of the thematic album.

J. Cole Teases His New Album On A Knockout Verse

At 1:06:45, Yachty mentions Drake’s  Honestly, Nevermind . The 2022 album that broke from some of Drizzy’s more Rap-centered releases. He asks if Cole has ever considered such a pivot. “I’ve toyed around with things that have never been released,” the guest admits. “With this, with what I do, with [the area in Rap] where my heart is at, where like I love, I got unfinished business. The Fall Off , that I’m working on now, is like—I could never really [do something else]. ‘Cause you gotta immerse yourself, like you did with your [ Let’s Start Here. ] album that you just released—when you go that route, you gotta immerse.” Yachty’s 2023 album delves into Psychedelic sounds and vocals that often veer from the Georgia rapper’s established sound.

Cole continues, “And because I’ve had a goal for a long time of how I wanted this thing to like go, I flirted with it, but never had time to really dive in. What I’m wondering is, after I finish my breakfast in this regard, will that open me up to be more free, and to go explore some of those things? ‘Cause there’s a lot of stuff I love, and there’s a lot of stuff I want to do, and there’s a lot of amazing stuff to me [that I admire], but it don’t necessarily fit with what my end goal is.”

J. Cole Explains Why He Made His “1985” Diss Record Of Lil Rappers (Video)

Yachty tells the guest he senses that Cole raps like he has something on his chest. “I don’t know how much I want to give out, but as you can see, once I get goin’, I can’t stop myself from talkin’,” Cole begins. “So to not give away too much: years ago, this is 2015, after my biggest album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive , I got off tour. I was doin’ music on tour, like, I was makin’ beats on the bus, writing here and there, but I was chillin’, for the most part. I was working, but it wasn’t any type of urgency. So I got home…bro, I was comfortable. I was comfy with watchin’ TV, watchin’ wifey; I was watchin’ TV shows for the first time since I was in my teens. At the time, it was Narcos —I’m watchin’ full series! I never did that s__t; How To Get Away With Murder [and] Odd Man Out. ”

While happy, Cole admits that the state of relaxation took a toll. “Every day I’d open my laptop up [and] try to make a beat, and then I’d try to write. And then when I’d start writin’, I’d be like, ‘Man, this s__t kinda ass, if I’m bein’ honest with myself. It’s nothin’ about what I’m writin’ the past few days, past few weeks that’s like impressing me .’ And it was like, ‘Oh, you hella comfortable.’ And, a lot of the skillset that I came in the game with—I started as a sharp, sharp, sharp rapper, and I still was at that time, but I got sharp in other areas.” Cole points to the ’23 Yachty collab, “The Secret Recipe” as evidence of his lyrical prowess. “By the time Forest Hills Drive , I was a storyteller, album-maker, song-maker, ‘Love Yourz,’ emotional, boom-boom. I had lost some of that bite. And I was trying to get that s__t back!'”

J. Cole Told Dr. Dre About Kendrick Lamar & Wanted To Sign Him

Cole doubles down on his mid-2015 art. “Them s__ts was falling flat. I was like, ‘Oh, you lost a step in this regard. Are you comfortable?’ I had a real talk with myself, like, ‘Yo, bro. You accomplished a lot . That album was—that s__t went crazy. The tour went crazy. It’s like, you made it to where you wanted to make it to, do you even want to keep going? But do you just want to chill, go start a family, and just chill? Are you cool; do you want to retire right now?’ And I had that honest conversation with myself. I thought, and I was like, ‘What’s the answer?’ And I felt the answer immediately, and I was like, ‘Nah, not yet.’ Why? I want to be able to dunk again, damn near. If I go out and close the chapter—not sayin’ I will, but if I do, I want to do it at the highest level of achievement and skillset that I ever been in my life, you know what I mean? So I was like, that’s gonna take time.”

The concept crystalized. “So since then…I was like, ‘Oh, there’s an album for this.’ And I ain’t know the name. And over time, the name and the story and my skills grew, and the songs [too]. I’m already sayin’ like a lot, but it’s [there]. So your point, is there something on my chest? No, bro, it’s somethin’ I want to prove for myself. It’s a level I want to reach for myself. And all of them features have just been exercises at getting better, and pushing myself to getting better [and] sharpening the sword to ultimately end up [at my goal].”

Skyzoo Explains How Phonte Talked Him Out Of Retiring

Elsewhere on the podcast, Cole reveals that he does not charge any money for those acclaimed features. He also speaks about his place among peers Kendrick Lamar and Drake .

#BonusBeat: New music by J. Cole and Lil Yachty is currently included on the Ambrosia For Heads playlist :

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Lil Yachty Taps J. Cole For Surprise New Track "The Secret Recipe."

Yachty fans were pleasantly surprised about him getting a Cole feature.

Lil Yachty has been on a roll this year. From his album Let's Start Here to his wide array of singles, 2023 has been the year of Lil Yachty. Moreover, he is currently besties with Drake. He has the inside track on For All The Dogs , and fans are curious what the artist's next direction will be. Overall, Yachty's growth since 2016 has been very fun to watch. It feels like he is dropping new tracks almost every week, and fans are definitely grateful . On Friday, he came through again, this time with a single featuring J. Cole .

Below, you can find the lowkey music video to a track called "The Secret Recipe." On this song, we get a psychedelic jazz instrumental that will make people think of Yachty's album from earlier in the year. That said, the vibe of this track is much different. It contains Yachty starting off the track with a plethora of off-kilter bars. Halfway through the song, J. Cole comes in the mix where he pretty much puts the entire industry on notice.

Read More: Lil Yachty On Hiring All Women For His Band: “I Feel Like They Rule The World”

Lil Yachty & J. Cole Link Up

It feels like Cole is going after everyone with this verse, and fans are definitely going to appreciate that. This is one of those instances where you can't help but be mesmerized by Cole and his ability to captivate you with each line. While Cole and Yachty might be an unlikely duo, it ends up working out.

Let us know what you think of this new collaboration between Lil Yachty and J. Cole, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always be sure to bring you the biggest releases from the biggest artists in the world. There are still some great projects to be released throughout 2023.

Quotable Lyrics:

Allegedly, they figured out that I'm the secret recipe The baddest hoes gon' test the E, then blame the high for wantin' sex I never wanted peace, fuck all the opps, I support Malcolm X The stack of chains is just a front Overtaxed and underwhelming, your jeweler pulled a major stunt I don't smoke weed, already blunt, all of my cars, I had to hunt

Read More: Lil Yachty Ding-Dong Ditches Random House

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J. Cole and Lil Yachty join forces on new song “The Secret Recipe”

The one-time foes team up on a brand new collaboration..

J. Cole and Lil Yachty have come together for the new song and music video "The Secret Recipe." Watch the new video below.

The collaboration comes from two rappers who have not always appeared to be on the same page . However, they use the track to air similar views about feeling undervalued in the rap world and to flex their own levels of influence. Yachty produced the beat and raps about how "standards have collapsed" and fires shots at those who "refuse to act like I ain't shift the sound, like I ain't push the culture."

Read Next: Drake announces 2024 tour dates with J. Cole

Cole, meanwhile, nods to the one rapper who can claim to be bigger than him in a moment of self-awareness. "I'm on your song, your streams goin' up, not quite the Drake effect," he raps. "But don't complain, bitch, take what you get and cut the label check."

Lil Yachty is currently on tour in support of his latest album, the psychedelic left-turn Let's Start Here . Since that album dropped he has shared the loosies "Strike (Holster)" and "TESLA."

J. Cole’s most recent album is 2021's The Off-Season . Earlier this week he urged NFL teams to give Colin Kaepernick a shot at returning to the game after the exiled quarterback underlined his availability in an open letter.

Recommended

J. Cole reveals details for Dreamville Festival 2024

Drake ties Michael Jackson for 13 No. 1s on Billboard Hot 100 with J. Cole collab “First Person Shooter”

J. Cole Said Drake Chose The ‘Song Over Competition’ On ‘First Person Shooter,’ But He Expects Revenge

The 50th anniversary of hip-hop discussions proved how competitive the genre has been throughout the decades. Each emcee is vying for their chance to snatch the attention of the listening audience for the coveted yet ever-elusive crown of the best rapper. The ability to be ranked at the top of any profession is an accolade most would be willing to fight for, including “ Passport Bros ” rapper J. Cole .

Dreamville’s head honcho has made a habit of calling his peers — hell, even newcomers — out for a light, lyrical sparring match. Fans fueled his inner spark by deeming him the conqueror in a few big-name collaborations. His first career No. 1 record, the Drake collaboration “ First Person Shooter ,” is one example. According to J. Cole, although Drake ultimately chose the “song over the competition,” he expects revenge from the recording artist soon.

During an appearance on “ The Secret Recipe ” collaborator Lil Yachty’s podcast A Safe Place , he spoke about the public’s (including Joe Budden) favorable response to his verse.

J Cole & Lil Yachty react to Joe Budden saying Drake got washed on First Person Shooter pic.twitter.com/sJYk1VF5pg — SOUND (@itsavibe) November 2, 2023

“At that moment, [Drake] chose the song over the competition and what the public is going to say [about his performance],” Cole said. “Drake ain’t looking at it like, ‘I’m going to take Cole’s f*cking head off at some point.’ Don’t think he ain’t’ looking at it like, ‘Nah, we just gonna make the best song.’ No, he comes from that cloth. So… at some point in time, he going to want his lick back.”

Drake, under pressure, has created bangers in the past (i.e., “Back To Back”). Cole better keep his head on a swivel.

Watch the full episode of A Safe Place podcast above.

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J. cole previews two songs in second volume of ‘might delete later’.

J. Cole continues to tease and build anticipation for 'The Fall Off.' Because, like Cole said, "It's inevitable."

By Marc Griffin

Marc Griffin

Staff Writer, News

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J. Cole is back with more music and another installment in his  Might Delete Later  series. The 11-minute footage dropped on Monday (Mar. 18) and includes even more star power than the first volume. 

Cole can be seen laughing, vibing, congratulating, receiving praise from, and gassing up his peers.  MDL Vol. 2  features guest appearances from Sexyy Red , Lil Yachty , Central Cee , Drake , Benny the Butcher , Conway the Machine , and Conductor Williams . 

Sexyy Red Isn't Revealing Her Baby Daddy's Identity Any Time Soon: "Mind Your F**king Business"

Jermaine used that song and some footage to showcase his brand-new sneakers, the Dreamer Indie 5000 (which may or may not signal the end of his deal with Puma). During this portion of the vlog, Cole could be seen shooting hoops in the new sneakers, flexing the traction and contact absorption of his “prototype.”

The next track was a bit grittier and used soul-rattling drums. J. Cole gets in his bag, spitting about his competition, riding his bike, and outperforming his peers on the microphone. Absolute cinema. “Going to sleep at night praying to God release the stress/ Now I’m on G4 jets across the seas to decompress/ My recent texts, how much you think? Hmm, decent guess/ They go, ‘Cole, who you gon’ kill on the feature next?'” he confidently raps. 

Additional footage shows a fight breaking out at a Buffalo, NY, tour stop, an old Cole interview documenting his career ambitions (“To get where Jay-Z and Kanye sit”), and Cole in the studio working on  The Fall Off.

Might Delete Later Vol. 1  was released in February . The vlog featured an unreleased song and even more behind-the-scenes footage. Contrary to the title of both vlogs, Cole has yet to delete the footage. But, knowing how low-key the North Carolina emcee is, he may delete them when we least expect it. So, enjoy them while you can. 

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6 Easter Eggs You Might Have Missed in J. Cole’s New Vlog

There’s a lot to unpack in the second volume of J. Cole’s ‘Might Delete This Later’ video series. Here are some things you might have missed.

J. Cole just released the second installment of his Might Delete This Later video series, and it’s full of easter eggs, callbacks to previous eras, and snippets of new music.

The first episode of Might Delete This Later , which he uploaded to YouTube on Feb. 21, included footage of Cole in the studio with Tay Keith, clips of him traveling with Drake across the country, and even a new snippet of unreleased music. Now Vol. 2 continues that format, featuring more footage of Cole working on music during the tour , some throwbacks to his Born Sinner era, and a lot of snippets of new music that will hopefully be featured on his forthcoming album The Fall Off. 

In the video, Cole reveals that he’s made “6 iterations” of the album at this point because of how long he’s been working on it, and if these episodes are any indicator of the quality of the album, fans are going to be eating well this year.

There’s a lot to unpack throughout the 11-minute clip, so here are 6 Easter eggs you might have missed in J. Cole’s Might Delete Later Vol. 2 .

Lil Cole makes a return

View this video on YouTube

This is a deep cut reference for all the OG Dreamville fans. Back in 2008, Cole pitched up his voice using Auto-Tune and created Lil Cole , a hilarious alter ego that would pop up on skits at the end of Born Sinner’s “Forbidden Fruit” and again on KOD ’s “Brackets.” Lil Cole makes a physical appearance at the 2:10 mark of Might Delete Later Vol. 2, taking his turn as videographer as he captures footage of Cole in the studio and on tour, before introducing Dreamville’s new Indie 5000 basketball sneaker.

He’s paying homage to classic S.M.A.C.K DVDs

Cole is paying homage to classic S.M.A.C.K DVDs with the creative direction on these Might Delete Later videos. S.M.A.C.K (an acronym for Streets, Music, Arts, Culture, and Knowledge) DVDs were videos that gave fans a raw look into the lives of their favorite rappers, featuring everything from freestyles to beefs to unfiltered interviews. The shaky, handheld VCR aesthetics fit the content that Cole has been including in these videos, like throwback clips of him in what looks like his Sideline Story era back in the early 2010s, paired with camcorder shots of his adventures on his current joint tour with Drake. S.M.A.C.K DVDs might be a thing of the past now that we’re in the age of the internet, but they clearly influenced Cole here.

He’s making a lot of his own beats again

At the end of Might Delete Later Vol. 1, Cole talks about wanting to tap back into his beat-making bag, and the episode ends with an old clip of him making the beat for Born Sinner ’s “She Knows.” Vol. 2 picks up right where the last vlog left off, with Cole making a new beat for the album and showing how his production skills have improved. He’s been making his own beats since the beginning of his career, handling the heavy lifting for several of his albums, including Born Sinner, 2014 Forest Hills Drive , and more, but he wasn’t all over the production credits on The Off-Season in the same way he’s been in the past. The footage in Might Delete Later Vol. 2 makes it clear that although he’s still tapping outside producers like Boi1da, Conductor Williams, and Metro Boomin (all of whom make cameo appearances or were named-dropped on either episode), he’s also taking on a lot of the beat-making himself. This could be a hint that we’ll be hearing a lot more Cole-produced beats on The Fall Off.

There are half a dozen new music snippets

View this photo on Instagram

There’s a lot of promising new music being played in the Vol. 2 , which will hopefully be featured on The Fall Off. At the 57-second mark of the YouTube video, a 10-second snippet of a new song that sounds like it could’ve been on The Off Season can be heard before the scene shifts to him joking around with his Dreamville clique. The second clip is a smooth song featuring Bas that’s played during a mini-commercial for Cole’s new Indie 5000 sneaker. The longest clip of new music, which features Cole flexing about his ridiculous feature run over the last year, starts at 4:28, alongside shots of Cole biking through an empty city. There’s a second-long clip that plays at 8:46 where you only hear the bar “Gone but not forgotten,” before the episode closes with an insane snippet of Cole rapping over Dipset’s “I’m Ready” beat featuring a new intro from Cam’ron. As a bonus, you can also hear a verse if you dial the number at the end of the video (910-335-4033), but it hasn’t been confirmed who is rapping it.

‘The Fall Off’ is being completed on the road with Drake

J. Cole says there's been about 6 iterations of 'The Fall Off' 🎶 "There's songs that have never been heard, where it was like at some point in time that was on 'The Fall Off'" pic.twitter.com/k8171wRHfo — Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) March 18, 2024

Cole tapped Cam’ron again and raps on another Diplomats beat

Cam doing another intro for Cole’s album? 🫣 2021 - 9 5 . s o u t h 2024 - ??? pic.twitter.com/YjigDcxzrP — Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) March 18, 2024

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