J. Cole recently thrilled fans by debuting two unreleased collaborations with Kendrick Lamar on his Inevitable podcast. Joined by his manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad, the Dreamville founder shared that the tracks were recorded in 2012 during Drake’s Club Paradise Tour, which featured Lamar and A$AP Rocky as opening acts.
Cole reminisced about their creative sessions on a studio bus in North Carolina.
Kendrick came to Fayetteville, and we worked for two or three days straight
Cole revealed
It was so fun, dawg… It felt like when your cousin would come over to your house.
One of the tracks was produced by Oddisee, adding to the excitement for fans eager to hear these long-hidden gems.
During the episode, Cole reflected on the release of Lamar’s critically acclaimed good kid, m.A.A.d city, describing a “feeling of surpassment” that fueled his ambition. “When Kendrick’s album dropped, the journey got harder, the mountain got steeper,” Cole admitted. He compared the experience to hearing Drake’s So Far Gone for the first time, recognizing the emergence of another artist with equally monumental aspirations.
Cole acknowledged two moments that signaled Kendrick’s rise: first-week album sales exceeding his own and a shared show where Kendrick headlined after Cole. “It was a humbling moment, but it also inspired me to work harder,” he said.
The Inevitable podcast episode has sparked excitement among hip-hop fans, many of whom have long awaited an official J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar joint project. While there’s no confirmation of a release date for these tracks, the reveal serves as a reminder of the duo’s creative chemistry and mutual respect.
You can listen to the full episode on the official Inevitable website.
