Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole Stand With Cozz On An Album That Shows He’s In Full Effect (Audio)

Top Dawg Entertainment and Dreamville Records are two of the most talent-packed rosters in Hip-Hop. Both labels have taken chances on lesser known MCs and provided them the resources to make cohesive, highly-conceptual albums with major label distribution, marketing, and touring. In an industry often chasing buzz, Top Dawg and J. Cole make running a Rap label look pure-hearted and fun again.

In a way, Cozz could have made a nice fit at TDE. The Los Angeles, California MC raps about the streets in a way that aligns him with the Gangsta Rap tradition. Ahead of Cole, The Game was said to be interested in the SoCal rapper for Black Wall Street. However, just as Isaiah Rashad and SZA showed new sides of Top Dawg’s label, Cozz is a testament to Cole’s vision and expansion.

Q-Tip & Kendrick Lamar Link On A Song That Sounds Like Vintage ATCQ (Audio)

Cody Macc’s sophomore album Effected was released this morning (February 13). It’s an “old-fashioned” Tuesday release date for a rapper who sought out hard copies and record store resonance when he inked with Dreamville. The 14-track effort involves Cole and Curren$y, as well as K-Dot, and serves as a thematic continuation of 2014 debut (and Top 200 LP), Cozz & Effect.

“Hustla’s Story” gets to that chemistry Cozz has with California Rap’s most recognized artist of the 2000s. Kendrick Lamar waits his turn for the 24-year-old rapper to cover what he sees every single day. The single chronicles all the people who make a non-traditional living in the ‘hood, driving a sophisticated but dangerous market and revenue stream. Lamar, as he’d done for YG Hootie and Hitta J3 (or recently shouting out Mozzy, from the Grammy Awards podium), gives his all to a street rapper with a message that he believes resonates. He assists with the chorus, before delivering a verse about hustlers’ relentless work ethic, but frequent neglect of loved ones.

Cozz Reverses Roles And Arrests The Cops In His New Video

#BonusBeat: J. Cole, Cozz’s Dreamville boss, joins him on “Zendaya.”

“Hustla’s Story” is produced by Hollywood JB, Meez, and Louie Ji. The album is a joint venture with Dreamville as well as Cozz’s Tha Committee imprint, with Interscope distribution.