J.I.D has admitted that he and EarthGang were on the verge of signing with another artist before ultimately joining J. Cole‘s Dreamville collective.
During an interview with The Breakfast Club, J.I.D spoke about the early days of his career and said he was first on the verge of signing with Coach K’s Quality Control in Atlanta before another rapper came knocking.
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“Coach K is my dog,” J.I.D said. “He was one of the first people that was like, ‘Bro you got something, something going on right here,’ and I was literally about to do that. I think it would have worked out either way though because, I don’t know, I feel like I’m on both sides of the spectrum. I can do the lyrics but I’m still a n-gga, you know what I’m saying?”
He continued by saying QC wasn’t the only label interested. “I’m finna tell y’all a story. Me and EarthGang was about to sign – not ’bout to, we was not about to do it once we saw the deal – we got offered a deal from Rich Homie Quan,” J.I.D said.
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Charlamagne commented how a deal of that magnitude would have been a big moment for Rich Homie Quan, but J.I.D said the deal itself was “disgusting.”
“I don’t even remember specifically, but … straight crack sandwiches,” he said, referencing his “Crack Sandwiches” song off The Forever Story. He then clarified that he didn’t even speak with Rich Homie himself, and instead just dealt with his people.
Elsewhere in the interview, he said he met Cole because of EarthGang’s buzz in Atlanta. “They went on tour with Ab-Soul and then I just came out and did a song every night,” J.I.D said. “Cole came to one of the shows and was like, ‘You ain’t in EarthGang.”
From there, therapper said Cole and his team invited him to the studio, and that he went harder than he’s ever gone. “A couple of songs came out of that that made the first album, and it was just hard,” J.I.D said. “It was a good moment. Cole is just a solid dude. Forever indebted to my dog.”
J.I.D is hot off the release of his album The Forever Story, which features guest appearances from Lil Durk, Lil Wayne, Ari Lennox, 21 Savage, Yasiin Bey, Johnta Austin, EarthGang, Kenny Mason and more.
The project moved 30,000 units in its first week and dropped the same week as DJ Khaled’s 13th studio album GOD DID. The pair ran into each other at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, and Khaled had nothing but good things to say about the album.
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“Congratulations on your album,” Khaled said as he dapped up J.I.D. on the red carpet.
“Likewise,” J.I.D replied. “You beat me.”
“No it’s not about that,” Khaled interjected. “It’s not about that. You have a beautiful album, congratulations. Keep going, don’t stop, I’m a fan.”
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As Khaled walked away, J.I.D chose to shoot his shot with the GOD DID producer and asked “to get on the next one,” which Khaled seemed enthusiastic about.
J.I.D later took to the VMA’s Extended Play stage to perform his songs “Dance Now” and “Surround Sound,” which as of August 29 have been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
