J. Cole paid homage to two of his idols, Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., on the first day of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. “Ya’ll make some noise for motherf**king Tupac Shakur,” said the Roc Nation MC after covering the late legend’s 1996 single “I Ain’t Mad at Cha.”

As sweat poured down his face, Cole delivered his Friday Night Lights mixtape cut “Higher” set to the Isley Brothers’ “Between the Sheets,” as sampled by Biggie on “Big Poppa.”

J. Cole recently performed a new song which samples Paula Abdul’s ’80s hit “Straight Up” during his first show with Rihanna in Baltimore. He is awaiting clearance before releasing the official single from his debut.