Subscribe
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE

Although Roc Nation artist J. Cole featured crooner Miguel on his new “Power Trip” single, the North Carolina native flexed his vocal chords a bit for the track as well. Cole speaks on his new love of singing, and talks up competing with “white people” at the Grammy Awards in a recent radio interview. 

While in Connecticut yesterday (April 9), Cole stopped by Hot 93.7 and covered a bevy of topics including confirming rumors that he and Kendrick Lamar will complete a joint album. But it appears that the producer and MC may start cashing in on writing hooks after crafting his newest hit.  Cole credits boss Jay-Z and his manager for getting Miguel to do the vocal heavy lifting.

“I started humming these melodies and then I wrote the words,” explained Cole. “I was like ‘man, it sound like I could do this for a R&B singer’ then I wanted to do it just ‘cause nobody’s heard me do that. So I finished by myself with just me.”

After playing the record for manager Mark Pitts, it was suggested that Miguel should sing the hook. In a separate conversation, Hov made the same suggestion and thus the single was born.  J. Cole, however, is aiming higher than radio spins after mentioning he wants to win an Album Of The Year Grammy Award.

“Drake won rap album of the year and they didn’t even televise it,” he said. “Not to mention, rappers never win for Album of the Year. Even Kanye West, who if any rapper deserved it in the past ten years, it would be Kanye west for Graduation.”

J. Cole mentioned that while winning Rap Album Of The Year would be great, he’s trying, in his words, to “compete with the White people” and get the coveted Album Of The Year award with the upcoming sophomore set Born Sinner.

You can check out the audio of the interview by clicking this link.

Photo:  Robin Marchant/Getty Images