At the top of 2019, J. Cole and Dreamville Records hosted invitation-only studio sessions for Revenge Of The Dreamers III. For 10 days at the top of the year (January 6 to January 16), one of 2018’s biggest stars and his ever-busy team that includes Bas, J.I.D., EarthGang, Lute, Cozz, Ari Lennox, Omen, and others held court at the lab. However, they invited a plethora of artists they collectively admire and wished to work with to Norcross, Georgia’s Tree Sounds—just outside of Atlanta.

Rick Ross, T.I., Benny The Butcher, Buddy, Ludacris, Wale, Lil Baby, Meek Mill, Akon, Vince Staples, Reason, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Isaiah Rashad, King Mez, Westside Gunn, Big K.R.I.T., Deanté Hitchcock, Smino, BJ The Chicago Kid, 6LACK, K Camp, Cousin Stizz, Guapdad 4000, and others received the invites. Producers were tapped too, ranging from Swizz Beatz and Mike WiLL Made It to J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and Tay Keith. They added, as did S1, !llmind, T-Minus, Don Cannon, and others. Meanwhile, Some attendees shared their summons letter on social media. Others confirmed their presence with photos online or in diaries at DJ Booth or an XXL cover story. According to another XXL retrospective, 124 songs were recorded in total.

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Tonight (June 12), Heads get their first taste of ROTD3, per the label. “Down Bad” features Cole alongside his team of J.I.D., Bas, and EarthGang. East Atlanta’s Young Nudy joins the mix too. At less than three minutes, the track is a barrage of bars. J.I.D., who raps second, hits hard. “I’m here for the crown / Board Of Education versus Brown / I was bored with education, left the town / F*ck a resume, and f*ck a cap and gown / F*ck a background check when I back ’round / When I get the check? Ni**a, that’s now.” He makes a chorus, recalling those leaner times in life, and making improvements.

After a confident Bas display, Cole also spits some fire. The beat breaks as Cole waves his team flag and traces Heads through his come-up. In looking back the CEO thanks the pressure for making a diamond in a team that refuses to let up on releasing exciting music with a diverse roster of talent.

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“Got Me,” featuring Ari Lennox, Omen, Ty Dolla $ign, Dreezy, embedded below, is also included in the two-song pack called 1-888-88-DREAM.

Previously, Dreamville released the Interscope-backed ROTD2 in late 2015 and a first, free-mixtape installment in early 2014. Apart from Social Experiment’s Donnie Trumpet, those compilations have been in-house affairs.