Few canceled music albums have reached mythic legend status quite in the same vein as the once-proposed collab album of J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar. It's the modern equivalent of the kind of Detox stirred once upon a time ago. Some fans and commentators continue to wonder if K. Dot and J. Cole still have plans to release said album, while others have questioned if it ever existed to begin with.

J. Cole confirmed the album's planned existence on his Inevitable podcast, where he has released multiple unreleased tracks this year featuring himself and Kendrick Lamar that would have wound up on a proposed collaboration project. The releases have fans holding out hope that this long-awaited album may still come out. It's clear now that entire tracks have been produced between the two iconic rappers - so why did the album never come out?

That question has alluded even the most die-hard of rap fans, but a comprehensive timeline chronicling the album from start to finish is the best way to answer that question.

When Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole First Tried to Collaborate

More Than a Decade Ago

On his Inevitable podcast, J. Cole recalled having met Kendrick Lamar during a XXL photoshoot in 2010, back when Cole and Kendrick's friend/collaborator Jay Rock made the Freshman Class. Kendrick and Cole shared a conversation and stayed in touch. Kendrick even called Cole after the latter dropped "Blow Up" for Friday Night Lights, complimenting Cole on the beat he made and saying, "I need one of those!" Cole then recalls him and GNX reuniting at producer No I.D.'s studio.

In that session, Kendrick Lamar played the song "Temptation" (one of their unreleased songs played by Cole) for Cole with his verse on it, while Cole in return played the beat for "HiiiPower," which Dot would use for his first studio album, Section .80. Kendrick was surprised Cole would give him a beat like that, expecting nothing in return. "Bro, you sleeping on yourself," Cole re Kendrick telling him. Realizing he was underestimating his ability, Cole took those words to heart while Kendrick appreciated such genuine kindness from another rapper.

A legitimate friendship had started to blossom in that moment. During that studio session, they continued to converse, as well as play more beats and verses for each other. As J. Cole would mention on his guest podcast appearance on Lil Yachty's A Safe Place, Kendrick was impressed with what he was hearing and suggested they should do an album together. This wasn't just industry talk to fill space in a conversation. Both artists took the prospect of a duo project seriously. They would discuss a potential concept, as well as begin recording songs together.

Why Did Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole's t Project Never Come Out?

Time Was Always the Issue

From there, while an album was far from receiving a tentative release date, or even a title, both men would find time to at least produce music together. Kendrick would appear as a feature on Cole's 2013 Born Sinner album for the song "Forbidden Fruit," all while both men teased the project in respective interviews. Cole went as far as to tell XXL in late 2011 that not only were they working on a mixtape together, but at that point, the album was 90% done.

Most infamously, in 2015, they'd release a pair of songs - both titled "Black Friday" - where Kendrick would rap over Cole's "Tale of 2 Cities," while Cole would rap over Kendrick's "Alright" beat. What made this so infamous is this bar near the end of Cole's version:

When you and K. Dot's s*** 'gon drop? B**** never!

They can't handle two black n***** this clever!

It was never clear at the time if Cole was being braggadocious about how strong of an album he and Kendrick would make once it dropped, or if this was his way of announcing the album was no longer happening. Cole confirmed the latter in the aforementioned Yachty podcast episode, itting that time had become an issue.

Time and life, we ain't ever got the chance to go in and do it correctly, because that would take time, bro. For us to do something that's full of our potential, that meets our real potential, you're gonna need time ... at least a year.

In fairness to J. Cole, it makes perfect sense as to how time would get in the way. Both men met each other before either's career had truly taken off. Within a couple of years of meeting each other, Kendrick Lamar's breakout album Good Kid m.A.A.d. City dropped. Then, in 2014, both men would become revered as GOATs of hip hop once they respectively released 2014 Forest Hills Drive and To Pimp a Butterfly within months of each other. Musically, they'd start selling out arenas, while other life events like Cole getting married would extend just how busy they would be outside their professions.

Can The Kendrick Lamar And J. Cole Album Still Come Out?

J. Cole Gave Fans New Hope

They would unexpectedly cross paths again in 2023 and 2024, not as collaborators, but as opponents. J. Cole found himself in the middle of the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar beef. Cole's verse that started it all on "First Person Shooter," followed by Kendrick Lamar's "Like That" verse seemed to be in the spirit of friendly competition. When lines between Drizzy and K. Dot got particularly nasty, Cole publicly removed himself from the beef, first by removing "7 Minute Drill" - a direct diss to Kendrick - from streaming services and expressing his love for Kendrick onstage at Dreamville Fest.

It's evident that J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar, even past the friendly jabs on records, still hold respect for each other as musicians and as friends who used to be closer. In addition, Cole would play unreleased tracks featuring Kendrick on Inevitable, all adding to speculation that all hope is not lost for an album. Both men always expressed they never lost interest in producing an album, time just got in the way. While it's unlikely as long as Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole's careers continue to take off, anything is possible at this point.

Source: XXL