J. Cole Links with BIA on "London"

After teaming up with BIA on new single "London," J. Cole revealed that he was "blown away" by the original track before adding his verse.

J. Cole has gone back to London. On Friday, BIA released her first collaboration with the North Carolina rapper, a week after releasing D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape and holding the second Dreamville Festival at Dorothea Dix Park. In an Instagram post promoting the new video for "London," Cole shared that he was "blown away" by BIA's original cut of the song before providing his verse.

“I damn near didn’t even wanna put this clip up cuz I need everybody to hear this shit PURE. How I heard it!” he wrote. “I Asked BIA to come through the studio for some whole other shit. First time meeting her. We chop it up. She plays me this new song she had just did. Mannnnnnn. in that moment I was blown away."

“I thought about this song for a month straight, it was my favorite song and I only heard it one time. She hit me recently and sent me the song (she musta knew I wanted to hear it again!!!) and I was just grateful to have it in my possession," Cole added.

“When the thought and conversation came up about me adding a verse, I was excited but genuinely nervous cuz I didn’t even see how the song could be better after what she did to it,” he explained. “I didn’t want to fuck nothing up! I’m grateful I Ended up catching the right wave.”

He added, “Thank you @bia for having me on this record with you, love this shit and love your energy and spirit. Bia ft cole – ‘London’ out now. Peace.”

The Daps-directed music video for the track was aptly filmed across the pond, with England cultural landmarks like Big Ben making an appearance, while Cole name-drops Heathrow Airport and the O2 Arena.

Stream "London" below.