J. Cole on making “Power Trip” (2013)

What are you doing from 4 to 6 a.m.? J. Cole is all business. “We flew to L.A just to play this shit for [No I.D.],” he explains in this video. “N**ga stood up and clapped. I was like, ‘Fuck yeah, that’s gold!'” There’s a reason why we ranked it No. 8 on our list of The 50 Best Songs of 2013. In this video, J. Cole breaks down the making of “Power Trip,” with a good ol’ level-smashing 808 kick and that catchy riff which loops throughout the track. Hold out to 7:00, where Cole plays a beat he made for Jay-Z which is unlike anything you’d think Jay would rap over. —Sydney Yeo