Growing up J. Cole idolized American rapper Nas, even posting his rap verses on his wall.[1] Once J. Cole had signed to Roc Nation in 2009, he began preparing his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story. On May 31, 2010 he released the first single "Who Dat" which failed to garner commercial success. After that Cole tried harder to find a good hit record for his record label. Through that long process, Cole had countless meetings with Jay-Z to discuss new songs he had made. Although Jay backed them as good songs, Roc Nation concluded that none of them were hits.[2] Cole explained that soon after all these dead ends,
One night I was in this hotel room after a show and I was listening to The College Dropout, as I do. And on the worst song on that album, which is my favorite album, so I'm not dissing. But on the worse song on that album, "The New Workout Plan," I heard the shit that I had been hearing for like—eight years now. I heard it different as a producer like oh shit... made a rough version of the beat right there in the hotel room. By the time I got back to Europe a few days later I had "Work Out".[1]
"Work Out" would become the highly successful lead single from his debut album, peaking within the number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Following its release as a single, J. Cole received a phone call from his mentor, producer No ID. No ID told Cole that he was in the studio with Nas, and that Nas had told him that he hated the song "Work Out". Cole was devastated upon hearing that, which made him write the tribute song to his idol, "Let Nas Down" the following year.[2][3] Less than a week after creating and recording the song, Cole ran into Nas at a Houston airport at six in the morning boarding the same flight as him. As fate would have it Nas would be sitting right behind him on the flight, so right away Cole played the song for him. Nas felt honored by the song and was very impressed by it.[4]
A month prior to Born Sinner's release, Cole previewed the song for New York radio personality Peter Rosenberg, where he reported the title as "I Disappointed Nas", which Cole laughed off as incorrect.[5][6] The song has been compared to Kanye West's "Big Brother" and Nas' "Unauthorized Biography of Rakim".[7] Leading up to its release, it was the album's most discussed song.[8]
Critical reception
The song would receive mixed reviews from music critics. XXL called the song the album's most honest moment, and its best track along with the two singles "Crooked Smile" and "Power Trip."[9]Spin said of the song "Instead of resonating as an emotive confessional, the song only spotlights the lack of fire on Born Sinner."[10]The Boston Globe said the song was "too insular to make its bigger points."[11]
The response from the song would result in Nas and J. Cole covering the Summer issue of Vibe, along with a dual interview discussing lyricism, their influences and "Let Nas Down", among other things.[12]
Remix
Shortly before the release of Born Sinner Nas began work on a remix to the song.[13] On June 24, 2013 the song "Made Nas Proud" was released. Throughout the song Nas details the situation from his side and praises Cole, being understanding of the importance of having commercial songs.[14] Upon its release it was met with universal critical acclaim.[3][15] The remix was named one of the best songs of the first half of 2013 by Complex.[16]
^"J. Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
April 11, 2023
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Let Nas Down is a song by American hip hop recording artist J Cole taken from his second studio album Born Sinner 2013 The song was produced by Cole himself as a dedication to one of his idols fellow American rapper Nas with whom Cole was often compared to early in his career He sampled the song Gentleman by Fela Kuti The song peaked at 55 on the Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Let Nas Down Song by J Colefrom the album Born SinnerReleasedJune 18 2013 2013 06 18 Recorded2012GenreHip hop jazz rapLength4 37LabelDreamvilleRoc NationColumbiaSongwriter s Jermaine ColeAnthony ParrinoFela KutiProducer s J Cole Contents 1 Background 2 Critical reception 3 Remix 4 Credits and personnel 5 Charts 6 ReferencesBackground EditGrowing up J Cole idolized American rapper Nas even posting his rap verses on his wall 1 Once J Cole had signed to Roc Nation in 2009 he began preparing his debut album Cole World The Sideline Story On May 31 2010 he released the first single Who Dat which failed to garner commercial success After that Cole tried harder to find a good hit record for his record label Through that long process Cole had countless meetings with Jay Z to discuss new songs he had made Although Jay backed them as good songs Roc Nation concluded that none of them were hits 2 Cole explained that soon after all these dead ends One night I was in this hotel room after a show and I was listening to The College Dropout as I do And on the worst song on that album which is my favorite album so I m not dissing But on the worse song on that album The New Workout Plan I heard the shit that I had been hearing for like eight years now I heard it different as a producer like oh shit made a rough version of the beat right there in the hotel room By the time I got back to Europe a few days later I had Work Out 1 Work Out would become the highly successful lead single from his debut album peaking within the number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 Following its release as a single J Cole received a phone call from his mentor producer No ID No ID told Cole that he was in the studio with Nas and that Nas had told him that he hated the song Work Out Cole was devastated upon hearing that which made him write the tribute song to his idol Let Nas Down the following year 2 3 Less than a week after creating and recording the song Cole ran into Nas at a Houston airport at six in the morning boarding the same flight as him As fate would have it Nas would be sitting right behind him on the flight so right away Cole played the song for him Nas felt honored by the song and was very impressed by it 4 A month prior to Born Sinner s release Cole previewed the song for New York radio personality Peter Rosenberg where he reported the title as I Disappointed Nas which Cole laughed off as incorrect 5 6 The song has been compared to Kanye West s Big Brother and Nas Unauthorized Biography of Rakim 7 Leading up to its release it was the album s most discussed song 8 Critical reception EditThe song would receive mixed reviews from music critics XXL called the song the album s most honest moment and its best track along with the two singles Crooked Smile and Power Trip 9 Spin said of the song Instead of resonating as an emotive confessional the song only spotlights the lack of fire on Born Sinner 10 The Boston Globe said the song was too insular to make its bigger points 11 The response from the song would result in Nas and J Cole covering the Summer issue of Vibe along with a dual interview discussing lyricism their influences and Let Nas Down among other things 12 Remix EditShortly before the release of Born Sinner Nas began work on a remix to the song 13 On June 24 2013 the song Made Nas Proud was released Throughout the song Nas details the situation from his side and praises Cole being understanding of the importance of having commercial songs 14 Upon its release it was met with universal critical acclaim 3 15 The remix was named one of the best songs of the first half of 2013 by Complex 16 Credits and personnel EditCredits adapted from the liner notes of Born Sinner 17 J Cole lead vocals songwriting production A Kuti songwriting sample credit Elite songwriting Nate Jones bass Juro Mez Davis mixingCharts EditChart 2013 PeakpositionUS Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 18 55References Edit a b Harling Danielle 2013 06 07 J Cole Says A Phone Call With No I D Inspired Let Nas Down HipHop DX Retrieved 2013 07 22 a b Mrutu Amani J Cole Explains Let Nas Down Hypetrak Retrieved 2013 07 22 a b Review Nas Remix Of J Cole s Let Nas Down Is The Year s Most Intriguing Recorded Moment So Far Vibe 2013 06 24 Archived from the original on 2013 07 29 Retrieved 2013 07 22 J Cole Says He Played Let Nas Down For Nas On An Airplane XXL XXL 2013 06 18 Retrieved 2013 07 22 Muhammad Latifah J Cole Previews Born Sinner Addresses Nas Track News BET Retrieved 2013 07 22 J Cole Laughs At I Disappointed Nas Song Title Vibe 2013 05 24 Retrieved 2013 07 22 J Cole Born Sinner Album Reviews Pitchfork 2013 06 21 Retrieved 2013 07 22 Julia LeConte 2013 07 18 J Cole Born Sinner NOW Magazine Nowtoronto com Retrieved 2013 07 22 J Cole Born Sinner Album Review XXL Xxlmag com 2013 06 19 Retrieved 2013 07 22 Mlynar Phillip 2013 06 19 J Cole Born Sinner Roc Nation SPIN Albums Critical Mass SPIN Retrieved 2013 07 22 Ken Capobianco 2013 06 18 ALBUM REVIEW J Cole Born Sinner Music The Boston Globe Retrieved 2013 07 22 Summer 2013 Cover J Cole And Nas Vibe 2013 08 13 Retrieved 2013 08 25 J Cole Nas Made Nas Proud Complex 2013 06 25 Retrieved 2013 07 22 Hear Nas Comfort J Cole on Payback Remix Made Nas Proud SPIN Newswire SPIN 2013 06 24 Retrieved 2013 07 22 J Cole Made Nas Proud On Let Nas Down Remix Rapfix mtv com 2013 06 22 Retrieved 2013 07 22 11 J Cole f Nas Let Nas Down Remix The Best Songs of 2013 So Far Complex 2013 06 24 Retrieved 2013 07 22 Born Sinner Media notes J Cole Columbia Records 2013 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a access date requires url help CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link J Cole Chart History Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Let Nas Down amp oldid 1012217747, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
