J. Cole issues free EP 'Truly Yours'

By Gerrick D. Kennedy

Feb. 12, 2013 12 AM PT

J. Cole is telling fans “it’s time” for his return.

As the Jay-Z protégé preps his sophomore album, “Born Sinner,” he decided to tease fans with a new EP, “Truly Yours,” as a free download on his official site, Dreamvillain.

The five-track EP features songs that didn’t make the cut, according to a letter that accompanies the download.

Cole also announced that the first single from “Born Sinner,” which he calls his “best work yet,” will be released later this week.

“I appreciate you giving me the time I needed to grow, experiment, and find the direction for my 2nd album. And I have,” he wrote in the letter. “Along the way I’ve recorded at least 4 albums worth of material, lots of it being unfinished demo versions waiting to be polished up, some of them are great songs and important stories that just won’t make the album (either they don’t fit Sonically, don’t fit Theme, or there’s just not enough space).”

“Born Sinner” is the follow-up to his stellar debut, “Cole World: The Sideline Story.” Released in 2011 (it’s a crime the album wasn’t up for rap album at Sunday’s Grammys), the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Cole has yet to announce a release date for his new album.

ALSO:

J. Cole gets off sidelines with album

Summer stadium tour for Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z?

Beck covers David Bowie’s ‘Sound and Vision’ with 160-piece band