Rapper J Cole finally responds to Kendrick Lamar’s recent jabs

WEB DESK: Rapper J Cole seems to have finally responded to fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar’s alleged jibes towards him and Drake with the surprise announcement of his latest song “7 Minute Drill” from the album “Might Delete Later” on Friday.

J Cole released the audio version of “7 Minute Drill” on his official YouTube channel on Friday. Since its release, the video has amassed an impressive 2.6 million views.

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The world of rap music has been abuzz with the latest chapter in the trio’s rivalry since rappers “Metro Boomin” and “Future’’ dropped a single “Like That” featuring Kendrick Lamar. Lamar’s verses on the song sparked immediate debate in what the fans viewed as taking jibes at fellow rappers Drake and J Cole.

Drake and J Cole’s collaborated on the song “First Person Shooter”, a single from the latter’s album “For All the Dogs” released in 2023. In the song, Cole grouped Lamar with himself and Drake, dubbing them the “big three” of the current rap scene.

Meanwhile, Lamar’s verse on “Like That” subtly aimed jabs at his rivals, apparently asserting his own superiority over them. He implied that his rivals’ works pales in comparison to him. “And your best work is a light pack”.

One of Lamar’s lyric in particular gives a strongly worded response, when he raps that “the big three […] it’s just big me”. This is seen by the fans as positioning himself on a higher pedestal compared to both.

Fans have linked the tension between the rappers to a range of factors, such as joint projects, competition, and personal relationships, all contributing to their rivalry over time.

Lamar’s appearance on Drake’s album in 2011 and the subsequent tour initially hinted a friendship. However, as their careers evolved and they each developed their own unique styles and identities, underlying rivalries gradually came to light.

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Rap has always been marred in controversies and rivalries in the genre are commonplace. Even iconic figures, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, have found themselves embroiled in intense rivalries at various points in their careers.

Lamar escalated the rivalry among the trio when he directly mentioned both rappers in his 2013 song “Control” in a collaboration with Big Sean. In the song, Lamar indicated his intention to “murder” both of them, career-wise. Since then, the rappers have traded subtle and direct barbs.