While we wait for J. Cole's delayed sophomore album, Born Sinner, the North Carolina native delivered his EP Truly Yours to occupy us. The four-track EP had demos and older cuts, such as 2009's "Stay." While talking to MTV News, the Cole World rapper spoke on the No I.D.-produced single, which he revealed he recorded shortly after singing to Roc Nation, still new to the music industry.
J. Cole explained how he got in the studio with No I.D. six months after inking a deal with Jay-Z, "We did the most incredible songs in one week. We did 'Not Too Late,' 'Stay,' 'Never Told' and a few more joints that haven't even come out yet," he explained. " 'Stay' was towards the end of the process — he 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."
Cole continued, "'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." By inexperience, Cole explained that he did not realize he had no claims to the beat until he bought he from No I.D. By the time he made a decision, it was too late-- Nas had snatched it up. "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," Cole said. "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."
Although Cole has now learned his lesson, it was not before a similar incident happened with "Tears Of Joy" which appeared on Rick Ross' Teflon Don. "The same thing happened with 'Tears of Joy.' I smacked myself. That's two classics that was supposed to be mine," he said. "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."
Born Sinner has no set release date as of yet, but Cole did drop a new single with Miguel recently, "Power Trip."