J. Cole said there’s one part of his new album he’s not proud of: a track in which he disses Kendrick Lamar.
The artist, who released his album “Might Delete Later” on Friday, released a track titled “7 Minute Drill,” which features a verse that takes aim at fellow rappers.
“Except for one part, I’m very proud of that project,” Cole said. Said Sunday at their concert, Dreamville Fest. “That’s part of the s— that makes me feel like, ‘Man, this is the worst s— that I’ve ever done in my f—— life.’ And I know that’s not what a lot of people want to hear.”
In 2018, Lamar, the first rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize, took aim at Cole and Drake in a guest verse on rapper Future and producer Metro Boomin’s song “Like That.”
In the song, Lamar responds to a line from Cole and Drake’s song “First Person Shooter”, in which Cole considered himself, Drake, and Lamar to be the “Big Three” of rap music.
Following the release of “Like That” on March 22, Lamar’s verse spread online, leading to speculation whether Cole or Drake would respond. Many fans believed that Lamar’s verse was so harsh to Cole and Drake that they could not respond.
Cole told the crowd Sunday that he tried to “shake down” Lamar in a friendly way, but it “didn’t go right.” He said he hoped Lamar “didn’t mind” but that he would take another step “on the chin” if Lamar became angry.
Footage of Cole’s on-stage comments aired on X, where many people have spent days discussing her track. In the song, Cole says that Lamar’s second album “To Pimp a Butterfly,” which won Best Rap Album at the 2016 Grammys, put people to sleep.
Some rap fans online felt that Cole’s diss was weak as “TPAB” has received critical and commercial praise.
Cole told the Dreamville Fest crowd that he felt pressure to retaliate against Lamar.
Cole told the crowd, “I felt conflicted because I say, ‘Bruh, I know I don’t really feel any way,’ but the world wants to see blood.”
He also expressed regret for downplaying Lamar’s discography in his diss.
“How many people think Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest motherfuckers to ever touch a f—— microphone?” Cole said to applause from the audience.
He also said that he feels “blessed” to stand alongside Drake and Lamar as peers.
Drake has not responded directly to this. Recently he was seen mentioning this in a concert held in Florida.
Representatives for Cole, Lamar and Drake did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
