Wale and J. Cole are a hip-hop match made in heaven, as seen by their new single “Poke It Out,” which features a J Dilla sample. On their slick new jam, which interpolates the Jay Dee-produced track from 1999 first solo single “Vivrant Thing,” the two former XXL Freshmen continue their lengthy history of bringing out the best in each other.
The original was a smash hit in its own right, earning Q-Tip his highest-charting single to date; Wale and Cole’s remix, produced by Cool & Dre, updates the lyrics but sticks to the same theme, allowing the two rappers to praise the beauty of a female companion with their usual slick, wordplay-laden rhymes. Female rappers Coi Leray and Megan Thee Stallion are also mentioned as examples of their diverse and open interests.
The song is off Wale’s upcoming album Folarin II, which he also confirmed will be released on October 22 via Warner Records. So far, he’s released two other singles: “Angles” and “Down South,” which samples Mike Jones and features Texans Maxo Kream and Yella Beezy. Wale’s latest album, based on the singles released thus far, appears to pay respect to traditional hip-hop as he compares his legacy to that of his musical heroes in his continued quest to prove himself one of the best rappers of all time.
