Just as tensions in rap’s biggest rivalry seemed to have cooled, J Cole has stirred the pot by accusing fellow rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar of chasing clicks and money.
Previously one of the “big three” in the war of words, Cole has been quieter than Drake and Kendrick, who have released 10 diss tracks between them.
However, Cole has now broken his silence with the release of his new single Port Antonio, which is packed with references to the ongoing feud.
Neither Drake nor Kendrick has publicly responded to the track, but Drake did like J Cole’s Instagram post announcing the release.
The feud between these rap giants reignited after Cole’s collaboration with Drake on First Person Shooter, where they declared themselves the “big three” of hip-hop, alongside Kendrick Lamar.
Kendrick quickly dismissed the notion of a “big three,” claiming there was only “big me,” which led to further conflict.
While J Cole initially doubled down, even releasing a follow-up track promising to “humble” Kendrick, he later apologized, calling it the “lamest, goofiest” thing he’d ever recorded.
In Port Antonio, Cole reflects on his decision to step back from the beef, rapping, “They wanted blood, they wanted clicks to make their pockets grow.”
He suggests that engaging further would have cost him a friend, turning a friendly rivalry into something much darker.
Meanwhile, Drake and Kendrick’s feud, which dates back years, escalated with increasingly personal diss tracks.
Kendrick’s Euphoria and Drake’s responses gained massive attention, with millions of streams and even being featured in political campaigns.
The beef turned personal, with both rappers accusing each other of serious allegations, including relationships with underage women and domestic violence, though both have denied these claims.
The tension even spilled offline, with Drake’s OVO store in London vandalized, and one of his security guards shot outside his Toronto mansion in May.
Though it’s unclear if the incident was linked to the feud, it added another layer of danger to the rivalry.
In his new single, J Cole reflects on how the feud began for profit and popularity but escalated to damaging levels.
He raps, “I wouldn’t have lost a battle, I would’ve lost a bro,” expressing regret over the potential fallout.
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