When I woke up two weeks ago, I heard Kendrick Lamar criticizing Drake and J. Cole on this song “Yes” from Metro Boomin and Future’s album “WE DON’T TRUST YOU” The 20-12 months-old hip-hop fan in me was excited. In the verse that made almost everyone listen to this song, Kendrick took a shot at two hip-hop titans, ridiculing the idea of ​​Rap Big 3 as suggested by J. Cole in “First Person Shooter” – from Drake’s lackluster album “For All dogs.” I was ready for Drake – who famously had high- and low-stakes feuds with Pusha T, Meek Mill and Common (among others) and has smoked for a litany of artists – to get competitive and drop a few bars but we have some inspirational quotes from the scene and some captions (?) on Instagram. Le sighs.

On the other hand, I had no doubt that J. Cole would respond in some way. When? I had no idea, but there’s no way one of the few rappers would appreciate his incredible lyricism and signature look, which undoubtedly puts him as one of, if not the greatest “feature rappers” of all time. Again, this is debatable, but I’m willing to say it. If J. Cole is featured in someone’s song, I RUN to listen to it. And it doesn’t matter what he does. He hits 1,000 on features. His appearances in songs from Benny the Butcher Down 21 Wild Down Summer walker Down Little Yachty Down Lil Durka whoever and wherever he goes, it’s a trail of flames. However, his albums leave a lot to be desired. So much so that I HOPE he would hop on someone’s album and write a Kung Fu Kenny verse that would let the hip-hop world know that if you want smoke, he’s got fire.

So fill me with curiosity but caution when I woke up to a text from a homie that read, “Surprise Cole album! So much for the bed.” Even though I’m always worried that his albums will be too mediocre, his albums are events, so I played “Might Delete Later” because Cole earned my auditions. I knew there was going to be a diss record, and I looked through the tracklist of what it might be, focusing on the last album, 7 Minute Drill, because Cole has a tendency to put the important album last – and I was right. Before I got to this song, however, I decided to listen to the rest of the album, and let me just say that I really appreciate that J. Cole continues the tradition of Drake’s “Honestly, Nevermind” album with the title – “Might Delete Later” – which can also be a sufficient review of the album.

That’s okay though. The highlight of this album is “7 Minute Drill”, through which J. Cole responds to Kendrick. Over the course of three and a half minutes and a beat change, we get a Jay-Z-style assessment of Kendrick’s legacy from “The Takeover” and a warning that Cole can have to bet on Kendrick Nino Brown, which is fascinating because he bet on Kendrick on “First Person Shooter” himself, Kendrick and Drake on the same status. But now he may need to take his brother somewhere Nino had to make Gee Money in “New Jack City”. Well played, Cole. Well played. I quite appreciated the reference as a way of explaining the situation.

In reference to Kendrick’s catalog, here’s what Cole had to say:

This is what people will probably discuss… because it is true. Even the most die-hard Kendrick fan should agree with what Cole reads in Kendrick’s catalog. “Good Kid, MAAD City” was a classic and “DAMN” was a monster. But “To Pimp a Butterfly,” while ambitious and noteworthy because it is kind of unique as a hip-hop record, is healthier talked about than listened to. The same goes for “Lord”. Morale and The Big Steppers” can also be one other ambitious and amazing concept album, but I doubt many individuals listen to it repeatedly, if in any respect.

The only reservation I even have about his bars is that Cole’s catalog is not all that great. I’m not even sure if he actually has anything that might be considered a classic. The closest non-compilation album could be “2014 Forest Hills Drive” – ​​I believe, and that is the extent of it. “The Off-Season,” his last album, had some great records, but a classic? Eh. Nothing else really reaches the level of classic or different than J. Cole stands. I believe most of us who don’t think J. Cole is Rap Jesus but really like him are waiting for this album to make us all understand the hype. But that is neither here nor there; he remains to be one in all the GOATS. The thing is, J. Cole going through Kendrick’s catalog is a bit weird when, well, Cole’s best work is not even on his own albums; as I said, J. Cole’s features are price the price of admission, the albums… not a lot.

But again, I’m glad this album exists. We have two famous and talented rappers who release albums in the kind of iron-blades-iron. Cole and Kendrick clearly have a mutual respect for one another – how could they not, they have been working together since the starting – so it’s all hip-hop. J. Cole is undoubtedly one in all the best spitters in the game. It makes no effort for him, and I can not help but appreciate and respect it. Hip-hop is healthier due to J. Cole’s qualities. And Kendrick is Kendrick; at this point who knows what he’ll do next, but when he releases the album we’ll all discuss it again because that is what happens with releases.

Hopefully we’ll record a number of more records in that point before one or the other comes out at the other’s show in Los Angeles or Charlotte. In the meantime, I’ll be waiting for J. Cole’s rumored final album, The Fall Off, similar to the remainder of the hip-hop world.

Oh, and I assume we’ll keep waiting for Drake’s response.

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