J. Cole has surprised the music world by unveiling two secret collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, “Temptation” and “Shock the World.”
During his new audio series, Inevitable, Cole reflects on past works. He shared these tracks, created back in 2010 when both artists were rising.
Cole describes “Temptation” as an incredible piece. He remembers sending beats to Kendrick, dubbing him an “insane” talent.
“Shock the World” isn’t just a duo effort; it features BJ The Chicago Kid, adding more layers to the collaboration.
Cole recalls first meeting Kendrick at a U-N-I release party in L.A., instantly impressed by his performance. “Yo, this guy is nice,” he remembers thinking.
After that initial encounter, they kept in touch. Kendrick once hit Cole up after hearing his track “Blow Up,” excited by its unique beat.
The creative exchange continued at No ID’s studio, where Cole played Kendrick several tracks, generously offering them. Kendrick admired Cole’s talent, even expressing disbelief at the offer.
Despite their promising partnership, these tracks never made it to an official project. However, Kendrick did perform them live in stores around 2011 and 2012.
The potential for a full collaborative album was discussed, but busy schedules and life priorities placed this on hold indefinitely.
J. Cole reminisces about the real possibility of working closely together, yet accepts that timing and commitment didn’t align for them.
Whether these songs will hit streaming services remains a mystery, but the release of other mixtapes like The Come Up gives fans hope.
While J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar’s joint album remains elusive, the unveiling of “Temptation” and “Shock the World” offers fans a glimpse into what could have been.
