Sha Money XL Wanted 50 Cent To Sign J. Cole

In an interview with Vibe his week, J. Cole offered some surprising news that would have led to a very different alternate reality in rap music. Prior to his signing with Roc Nation in 2009, former G-Unit Records president Sha Money XL had wanted to sign Cole to G-Unit before 50 Cent balked at the proposition. Apparently, 50 Cent was not very impressed with J. Cole's music.

“After that, Sha Money was trying to fuck with me heavy,” Cole told Vibe while speaking on an interaction with 50 and Sha. “He was like ‘Son, look, I’m playing 50 your shit.’ Supposedly the story is that he played 50 my shit and 50 wasn’t sure. Like, ‘I don’t know, man. Is he one of these skinny jeans niggas?’ He couldn’t see it, but it was a good time in my life. It was brand new, fresh. Being in that crib was amazing.”

Despite 50 Cent's misgivings, he would go on to eventually work with J. Cole on "New York Times" on Cole's latest album, Born Sinner. Cole would also speak on the experience making that record, too. Cole revealed that his initial intentions were to reunite feuding Queens rappers, 50 and Nas, on the track.

"Exactly. For hip-hop, period." Cole revealed. "But really for New York. I wanted that to be a real New York record. This down South nigga coming and putting on for the city because I have a connection. So 50 came to the studio in L.A. to lay the verse and he heard the melody and he was like, “I could tell you was thinking about me when you were doing that melody.” He wrote that shit in five minutes, maybe. It was crazy to see that melody that was in my head come to life with the actual person who I wanted to do it. He gave us three hours worth of game that night, just talking."

[Via Vibe]