J. Cole Is Executive Producing Young Thug's New Album: Report

The one-time tour partners have now hit the studio

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Mar 29, 2019

J. Cole and Young Thug occupy two very different places in rap, so fans of both MCs were understandably surprised when the two came together for Cole's "KOD Tour" last year. Now, it appears the pair's friendship will also involve a substantial musical collaboration.

As Complex reports, sources close to Young Thug confirmed that J. Cole will serve as executive producer on a forthcoming album from the Atlanta artist. The publication notes that the pair have begun initial recording sessions for the effort in New York.

Thug's last proper solo album was 2017's Beautiful Thugger Girls. That same year, he teamed up with Future for the collaborative SUPER SLIMEY. Last year, he delivered a compilation titled Slime Language and EPs Hear No Evil and On the Rvn.

Last September, Thug appeared to tease the release of a new album titled Barter 7, though some considered the reveal to be further trolling of Lil Wayne, considering he posted the teaser the same day the latter dropped his Tha Carter V.

Cole spoke reverently of Young Thug's artistry in an interview with American radio host Angie Martinez last year.

"If you want to talk about Young Thug as an artist, he's an innovator," Cole explained. "If you know skills, you call him a mumble rapper all you want, but if you know skills and you know the art of rapping, that dude is a genius."

Recently, J. Cole has been in the studio his Dreamville label cohorts and a wealth of special guests at work on a new label compilation. He delivered new solo single "Middle Child" earlier this year.

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