EXCLUSIVE – J. Cole told Morray to scrap his album multiple times before he decided on what would be his forthcoming project.

In a new interview with HipHopDX, Morray opened up about his relationship with Cole, explaining how the Dreamville boss isn’t afraid to speak his mind when it comes to his opinion on music.

“I can call Cole right now and he’ll be like, ‘What’s the issue?’ But I gotta be prepared for the answer,” he began. “That’s the thing about Cole, he gon’ give you Cole. But I love that because he’s not afraid to tell you what you don’t wanna hear to make you better.

“I’ve presented hella albums, I’ve been ready for an album, don’t get me wrong, I’ve been ready. I’ve presented to Cole, he told me, ‘N-gga, you’re not ready.’ Do you know how hard it is to take that from somebody you look up to? I think I’m done and you’re telling me I’m not? Back to the drawing board? But I appreciate him, because this album is staying.”

Morray may have presented multiple albums to J. Cole in the past, but he’s holding on to the final body of work as a surprise.

“I didn’t give it to him yet,” he said. “This is how I know this is the one. I want him to be surprised. I want him to hear it and be like, ‘Oh, n-gga, you did what the fuck I told you to do? Oh shit, you listened, n-gga?’ Like, ‘Yeah big bro, I really fuck with you!’

“I feel like him being a solid mentor is more than anything. It doesn’t matter if we never do anything else, it don’t matter if no opportunities come with J. Cole, the fact that I can call him and get quick advice, and the fact that you answer the phone… salute, big bro.”

J. Cole first came across Morray in October 2020, writing “this shit is AMAZING” on an Instagram post in reaction to his “Quicksand” music video.

Morray went on to collaborate with Cole on “My Life” (which also featured 21 Savage) on “My Life” from last year’s The Off-Season. The song ended up being nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

He also hit the road with Cole and Savage on The Off-Season Tour in 2021. During an interview with GRM Daily, Morray talked about the moment he found out he would be joining them on tour.

“I was in L.A. in a hotel and I got a phone call like, ‘Cole’s thinking about doing a tour and he said do you want to be on the tour?’” he recalled. “I’m like, Why Cole asking? He know damn well I want to do the tour!’

“It was life-changing to be on a tour with someone from your city, that should be on the Mount Rushmore of rap that comes from the same place where I come from. It was mind-boggling!”

One of HipHopDX‘s Rising Stars for 2021, Morray dropped his first project Street Sermons in April last year. It was released through Interscope Records and debuted at No. 41 on the Billboard 200 chart.