J. Cole Shares How Much Jay-Z's "Villematic" Co-Sign Meant to Him

"On the latest episode of Cole's limited audio series Inevitable, Cole spoke at length about his breakthrough mixtape Friday Night Lights. "Villematic," a fan favorite that features Cole freestyling over Kanye West's "Devil in a New Dress," received a big co-sign from Jay-Z, who signed Cole to Roc Nation in 2009.

"The reaction that I got from Jay on this song—he didn’t hit me or nothing, but we were at that Yankee Stadium show," he said, referring to Hov and Eminem's big show at the Yankee Stadium in September, 2010. Cole said that even though he was signed to Jay-Z's label at the time, it would still be "rare" for him to see him.

"I always was like, ‘This is somebody I idolize and really respect, but I still want to do it on my own,'" said Cole, stressing that he wanted to be seen "as a peer" by Jay-Z . Cole's manager Ibrahim "Ib" Hamad added, "You made it a point to be like, 'I'm not gonna bother this n***a.'"

complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/j-cole-jay-z-villematic-co-sign

"When backstage at the show, which also featured guest appearances from the likes of Drake and Dr. Dre among others, he bumped into Jay-Z leaving the artist lounge.

"He was like, 'Cole! Yo, my n***a,'" Cole shared. "I'll never forget it 'cause he said it like this... 'That 'Villematic?' He called it 'Vill-er-matic. He said, 'Woo! That's my favorite joint I ever heard from you.' That was a moment for me."

Really cool. Love when artists do this

I already know all of these bonus tracks are better than Hello.

Hello randomly creeped up on me one day years ago and I fw that song heavy now

same s*** happened with folding clothes for me a few years back lol never hated it but wasnt my favorite but now i sing it bar for bar

Omg that original single that Roc Nation had planned for Cole was horrendous. Would’ve ended his career

Actually insane. Might be a top release for the year, basically a new album

I'm dead at him dissing Stargate while he's working with them and him going up to Jay in the club lmao. As a fan back then I was just like why isn't the album being announced but he was going through hell 😂

I’ve missed the last few episodes been out of town but back on the grind tomorrow

He was fighting for his life while we thought he was being shelved lmaooo

What single?

It was a unreleased song Sean Garrett wrote the hook for and had the line “Cole World Cole life Cole blooded … how that feel very happy” as a verse that he ended up using later

Hov was gassing that song too lmao they were really gonna push the button

Folding clothes is so overhated, really love that song

Just caught that his merch from dreamville fest had inevitable on it under the fall off

I think we still get It's a boy after season 1 and fall off after season 2

Incest cause she wanna marry daddy
Now if you take me home girl that's gon make your parents happy

Jay listening to that s*** like

F*** man, how has no one ripped these episodes yet. Like does no one want to archive these.

Nigga was working on WTT around this time too wtfff 🤣

Bro its 10 dollars 😅

Night Rider snippet had me gassed… been waiting for that s*** for 15 years lol