J. Cole Samples Two Classics From Don Corleon’s ‘Drop Leaf’ Riddim
Only You, a song from American rap superstar J. Cole’s new album The Fall Off, is built around the classic Drop Leaf riddim, produced by Jamaican hitmaker Donovan “Don Corleon” Bennett alongside Nigel A. Staff and Wayne “DJ Wayne” Morris over two decades ago.
Released on Friday, the song features uncredited vocals from Burna Boy and pays homage to Corleon’s 2004 juggling project by sampling and interpolating two of its biggest hits. It incorporates elements of T.O.K.’s emotional anthem Footprints , with vocals from Bay-C and Alex subtly woven into the background. As the track progresses, Burna Boy adds a soulful interpolation of Jah Cure’s Longing For .
The writing credits for Only You list the riddim’s producers Corleon, Staff, and Morris, incarcerated singer Jah Cure, and T.O.K. members Xavier “Flexx” Davidson, Roshaun “Bay-C” Clarke, and Alistaire “Alex” McCalla, alongside Cole and his production team.
Taking to Instagram on release day, Don Corleon celebrated the moment, confirming his involvement and the double sample.
“Blessed to be a part of this one @realcoleworld @burnaboygram 2 samples From Drop Leaf Riddim @therealjahcure @tokjamaica lets go!!!!! #thefalloff #onlyyou #dropleafriddim 😎 I make classics,” he wrote.
The Drop Leaf riddim remains one of Corleon’s most commercially successful juggling projects. Beyond the sampled tracks, it spawned hits like Morgan Heritage’s Your Best Friend, Sizzla’s Be Strong, and Maxi Priest’s I Believe In Love.
The producer is responsible for several other seminal riddims and international hits in the mid-2000s era.
His Seasons riddim, released in 2005, featured hits such as Morgan Heritage’s How Come, Jah Cure’s Love Is, Fantan Mojah’s Thanks and Praises, Gyptian’s Is There A Place, and Natural Black’s Far From Reality.
That same year, the Junkanoo riddim spawned T.O.K.’s Hey Ladies, Vybz Kartel’s I Neva, Wayne Marshall’s Make Them Come, Jovi Rockwell’s Party On, and Voicemail’s Do What You Feel Like (Just Dance).
Corleon continued his streak in 2006 with the Sweat riddim, which produced Capleton’s Toppa Tings, Alaine’s Whine, Beenie Man’s Come Again, and Vybz Kartel’s Mr. Politician.
The High Altitude riddim in 2006 held Munga’s Flipping Rhymes, Voicemail’s Let’s Dance, and the crossover smash Break It Off by Sean Paul and Rihanna. That single was certified Gold in the US after it peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2006, he also produced Keyshia Cole and Sean Paul’s (When You Gonna) Give it Up to Me, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 31 in the UK.