Back in 2014, R&B singer Miguel teamed up with legendary producer DJ Premier to create “Damned,” a distorted psych-rock bonus track found on the deluxe version of his critically acclaimed 2015 album Wildheart. But on Tuesday, Premo surprised fans by dropping the original take of his collaboration with the Los Angeles artist, a soulful three-minute jam called “2 LOVIN U.”     

Taking on a classic boom-bap beat and disco-driven guitar strums, Miguel’s smokey vocals submerge the listener’s heart into a warm audial bath. “Two hearts committed to hopeless fate/I’d serve my life sentence a thousand times, woman,” he purrs over the serene instrumentation. From start to finish, the LA crooner unleashes his fiery and lovesick soul atop DJ Premier’s funky progression.   

The newly released version takes on a much cleaner sound than the previous take, tastefully constructed with rumbling guitar work and explosive turntable scratches. Best known for his role in the dynamic rap duo Gang Starr, Premier flaunts his undoubted production prowess throughout the blazingly passionate cut. 

The track first surfaced in an Instagram video posted by Miguel in 2014, depicting DJ Premier and himself jamming out to a rough version of the collaborative effort, which was still called “Damned” at the time.

While both artists felt strongly attached to this funky joint, the R&B singer ultimately decided that it didn’t fit the vibe of Wildheart, and thus was left off of the album. 

In the press release announcing the release of “2 LOVIN U”, DJ Premier stated:

 

“Miguel and I had deadlines and we never got around to finishing it. We both really believed in this version of the track and we both felt very strongly that it needed to come out and be released as a single. Miguel and I approached the label about releasing it and everyone was on-board.”

 

With fans itching for a followup to Miguel’s last project, “2 LOVIN U” provides an uptempo antidote that will keep the dance floor ablaze. Needless to say, one listen will have you “damned of loving" this electrifying offering.