J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, & Drake – Source: Getty Images/ Prince Williams / Getty Images
J. Cole is addressing why he bowed out of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef in a new song.
Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s hip-hop feud has dominated the genre but fans are still wondering what happened to J. Cole. As previously reported, the Fayetteville, NC rapper responded to Kendrick’s verse on “Like That” with his “7 Minute Drill” diss, before apologizing and backing out of the drama. He also pulled the track from streaming services, showing just how much he didn’t want the smoke.
Fast forward to Wednesday, October 9, and Jermaine Cole has resurfaced with his track “Port Antonio.” In it, he addresses backing out of the back-and-forth and says he thought things might go too far.
He also raps that if he actually engaged in the battle, he would’ve won but he would’ve “lost a bro” and “gained a foe.”
“They instigate the f***ery because it’s profitable/ But singing “stop the violence” tunes when dudes in hospitals/I pulled the plug because I seen where that was ’bout to go/They wanted blood, they wanted clicks to make they pockets grow/They see this fire in my pen and think I’m dodgin’ smoke/I wouldn’t have lost a battle, dawg, I woulda lost a bro/I woulda gained a foe/And all for what?/Just to attain some mo’ props from strangers that don’t got a clue what I been aimin’ for?”
As expected, most hip-hop fans aren’t receptive to J. Cole alleging that he would have been victorious, but in true J Cole fashion, he’s staying true to himself.
Later in the song, he responds to Drake calling his decision “weak as f**k” on his first diss, “Push Ups.”
“They strip me of my spot, and now I’m finally free, my n***a/They say I’m pickin’ sides, aye, don’t you lie on me, my n***a/To start another war, aye Drake, you’ll always be my n***a/I ain’t ashamed to say you did a lot for me, my n***a/F*ck all the narratives/Tappin’ back into your magic pen is what’s imperative/Remindin’ these folks why we do it/It’s not for beefin’, it’s for speakin’ our thoughts/Pushin’ ourselves, reachin’ the charts/Reachin’ your minds, deep in your heart”
Interestingly enough, Drake liked J. Cole’s Instagram announcing the song, and fans are now wondering how Kendrick feels about the track. If he takes it as a slight, could a winter battle be on the menu?
Listen to J. Cole’s”Port Antonio” below.
