J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar's Beef Explained

J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar Went Toe-to-Toe Through Their Music — the Rap Beef Explained

J. Cole called his and Kendrick Lamar's beef his "lamest, goofiest" one and it was practically Drake's fault.

Apr. 12 2024, Published 10:41 a.m. ET

Gen Z might give Millenials the blues about, neatly, the whole thing, however what they can by no means remove from us is the nights of partying in our blazers and leggings to 2010-era J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar. Along with their fellow "Big Three" member, Drake, they changed into the voices of Tumblr and Twitter quotes, in addition to the soundtrack to anything from heartbreak to needing to understand "we gon' be alright."

J. Cole and Kendrick's careers have soared in the last decade, each earning wealth, elite status in the song trade, and two of rap's maximum admired artists. With their similar trajectories, Cole and Kendrick don't have any issues getting along. Alas, the rappers lyrically duked it out for just about a 12 months prior to one in the end decided to place his differences apart.

J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar’s beef started in 2023 on Drake’s “For All the Dogs” album.

While Kendrick's beef with different rappers, specifically Drake, has long past on since 2013, J. Cole stayed on Kendrick's excellent side till October 2023. On Oct. 6, Drake released his album, For All the Dogs, which featured J.Cole. During their duet, "First Person Shooter," Drake and Cole reflected on being a part of rap's present "Big Three" along with Kendrick. Cole used to be heard giving Kendrick his props in the song.

“Love when they argue the hardest MC / Is it Ok. Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me?" Cole said in the song. "We the massive 3, like we started a league.”

While Cole and Drake felt they were congratulating themselves and Kendrick, their peer didn't really feel the similar manner. In March 2024, Kendrick gave the impression on Future and Metro Boomin's "Like That," where he threw pictures at the duo, pointing out, "Yeah get up with me, f--k sneak dissing / ‘First Person Shooter,’ I hope they came with three switches, Motherf---er the Big Three, n---a, it’s just big me.”

The back-to-back disses caused an online uproar, reviving many "Kendrick vs. J. Cole" debates and deep dives into the rappers' talents. The tension continued in April 2024 when Cole surprised his fans with his project, Might Delete Later. On the final song of the project, "7 Minute Drill," Cole made shady remarks about Kendrick's career, suggesting he "fell off like The Simpsons" and said he was "averagin’ one exhausting verse like every thirty months or somethin’." Cole also promised to "humble" the Compton native if needed.

“If he wasn’t dissin’, then we wouldn’t be discussin’ him," he said of Kendrick. "Lord, don’t make me have to smoke this n—a ’cause I f--k with him / But push come to shove, on this mic, I will humble him.”

J. Cole apologized to Kendrick Lamar for his actions against his fellow artist.

J. Cole's diss towards Kendrick continued fanning the flames of their feud during Might Delete Later's opening weekend. On Sunday, April 7, the "Paper Cuts" rapper addressed the track during his Dreamville Festival in Raleigh, N.C. At the festival, he explained that while he was "so proud" of his project, he wished he hadn't dissed Kendrick and left their issues alone.

"It’s one part of that s--t that makes me feel like, man, that’s the lamest s--t I did in my f----n’ lifestyles, right? And I do know this isn't what a lot of folks wish to pay attention.”

J. Cole said he released the diss in opposition to Kendrick after feeling "conflicted" about responding to Kendrick for the enthusiasts and, admittedly, "I don’t even feel no way" about his rap peer, consistent with Variety. He additionally claimed he shouldn't have stated anything else if he did not really feel the rest of the world wanted the feud to occur.

The global wanna see blood," J.Cole said on the stage. "I don’t know if y’all can feel that, however the international wanna see blood.”

J. Cole ended his apology to Kendrick via confirming he loves Kendrick, telling lovers, "Dreamville, y’all love Kendrick Lamar, correct? As do I." He then considered his diss track one of the most " lamest, goofiest shit" he is done and said it reminded him of his past actions during his upward push to reputation. J. Cole added he "felt terrible" after seeing the reaction to his track and inspired Kendrick to react alternatively he see fit.

"I pray that my n---a really didn’t feel no way and if he did, my n---a, I got my chin out," he mentioned. "Take your highest shot, I’ma take that shit on the chin boy, do what you do. All good. It’s love. And I pray that y’all are like, forgive a n—a for the misstep and I will get back to my true trail. Because I ain’t gonna lie to y’all. The past two days felt terrible. It let me know how excellent I’ve been snoozing for the past 10 years.”

Kendrick has yet to share his tackle his longtime peer's movements, which would possibly or may not be a good factor. On one hand, Okay.Dot could be willing to depart Cole on my own, but there's a much more likely probability he is cooking something up within the studio. Let's hope it is the first possibility!

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