Kendrick Lamar J. Cole album release date news: delay to long awaited collaboration may be down to individual projects

Kendrick LamarWikimedia Commons/Trijnstel

The much-talked-about collaboration album between hip hop mega-stars Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole may be stalled, but it does not mean that it will not see the light of day.

According to reports, Cole is busy rehearsing for his one-night only "Castle Lite Unlocks J. Cole" concert at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa on June 18. He will be joined by popular South African hip hop acts like Kwesta, Reason, and Emtee as well as famous DJs Vigilante and Speedstra.

Meanwhile, Lamar just spent time working on a collaboration with fellow hip hop artist Mistah F.A.B. in the latter's upcoming track called "Survive." The single, included on Mistah F.A.B.'s upcoming album "Son of Pimp" that will come out on May 27, talks about the dangers of lurking in the streets at night. Lamar's powerful verse in the track includes the words: "You ever been a victim of being a prisoner inside your own mind?/ The bright lights of the streetlights will make you go blind."

J. ColeInstagram/RealColeWorld

Lamar and Cole's collaboration has remained one of the hip hop world's most awaited projects since 2012, when Lamar teased that he and Cole will surprise their fans with their joint venture.

"We gon drop that out the sky," the "Hood Politics" rapper said in an interview with L.A. Leakers, as reported by BET in March 2013. "I ain't gonna give no dates, no nothing. I'm just gonna let it fall."

Cole, on the other hand, said in an interview on Jenny Boom Boom's radio show that the two of them already worked together in the studio several times.

At the moment, no other updates have been released about the status of highly anticipated hip hop collaboration.