Apr 8, 2024

I don't think Cole cares what he looks like. I don't think you should either. Or anyone for that matter. I can tell you how I'll listen to those bars after this weekend... the exact same. Because I'm not on social media. Posting here is the closest I get. I have a job, a family, hobbies, etc. I listen to music if I like it and if it touches me. I'm not trying to live vicariously through the characters in music or on the internet whatever. I understand that other people do. Maybe most people in 2024. And it's none of my business how anyone else wants to live their life. But that personally is not for me at this point in my life. So I feel you man. I totally understand the point you are making and it's valid. I'm just trying to demonstrate to you or anyone else that's curious what another perspective looks like. Cole's got a lot of fans like me that are a little older. I would imagine a lot of us that fit that demo feel the way about it that I do. But he's got a big fan base. There's going to be a ton of people coming to different conclusions from different perspectives. And that's cool. That's what comes with being a huge artist. If this happened in like 2012 I probably would feel exactly as you do. But it's 20 f'n 24 and I'm personally not going to pretend like this is something that it's not for me. If anything this whole thing just exposes the fact that it's 2024 and WE STILL HAVE THE SAME BIG 3. The internet wants these guys to act like they're 20 years old. Where are the good 20 year old rappers at? Why can't they jockey for the throne? Where's their disses? Just my 2 cents. I appreciate the back and forth.

 

Apr 8, 2024

I respect your perspective (and rationale), just don’t agree with it.

Oh, and I’m not on social media either.

 

Apr 8, 2024

J Cole could have dropped “Might Delete Later” without “7 Minute Drill” and people would have still found bars that were taking aim at Kendrick and it would have been a solid enough response in itself.

J Cole’s content on the whole project was about how he was the best, ready for smoke, it was the PERFECT time for that type of project after K Dots verse.

Cole apologizing is the worst thing overall. Makes this dope project lose a ton of authenticity.

 

Apr 8, 2024

It's high key hilarious to be having a substantiative, respectful conversation on this website of all places. Respect to you and I appreciate you laying out your case.

 

Apr 8, 2024

Ha! Likewise! It’s quite refreshing…

 

Apr 8, 2024

What do you think about the idea that their age has a lot to do with all this? Like Cole's stance here is very 40 years old / married / already successful. And I just think the weird thing is that the most poppin rappers are that age. Like when Jay/Nas/Em were that age they weren't at the top anymore. Still super popular. Super relevant but it was Wayne's time. T.I. Ross. Jeezy. etc. There's just nobody on deck behind these guys that are at this level so we're still looking for Drake to drop the song of the summer even after he's already made literally 100 of them. Still looking for Cole to put us on game when he already has. Still looking to Kendrick to shift the culture when he already did multiple times. It's just kind of a weird place.

 

Apr 8, 2024

One of the most pathetic moments of back pedalling I can remember. He's basically admitting he don't want any smoke with Kendrick. Blaming peer pressure

This will tarnish Cole's legacy, no doubt about it.

 

Apr 8, 2024

It’s just ridiculous he is apologizing for responding to a shot at him.

If he thinks responding to Kendrick is lame, then he HAS to think Kendrick dissing him is lame.

for some reason he is acting like Kendrick dissing him is phenomenal, he’s so great, so much respect. How is responding lame? Makes no sense.

Hope Kendrick drops a bomb on Cole.

 

Apr 8, 2024

All I know is 7 minute drill is hard as h--- , they bet not take this s--- off streaming lol

 

Apr 8, 2024

Ya I agree, Luke. Song is hard.

 

Apr 8, 2024

Them n----s on deadwndhiphop talking bout the first beat was wack, beat hard af to me .. s--- bounce, n----s tripping lol

 

Apr 8, 2024

We back on an island now. Just like the old days. Let the bad reviews and hate rain down on us.

 

Apr 8, 2024

Honestly doubt Kendrick responds after this, can see him taking the "mature" route.

If it was Drake on the other hand.. There's been no love lost there for about 10 years now.

 

Apr 8, 2024

This whole s--- was so lame man. Cole got here by saying f--- the game back in 2014. Just to get s----d back in when he finally crawled to the top on his own. I'm glad he tapped out, even if most people are gonna think its embarrassing. Ducking smoke etc. Cole made it to the top in spite of the bells and whistles. He never got a good review. Dude's barely consider FHD to be a classic. Never got a legit grammy or award. The dudes that put the likes of Kid Cudi and Jay Elect ahead of him back in 2010 never loved em. The same dudes put the likes of Trindad James and Chance The Rapper ahead of him 2014 never loved em. Everyone pretending like "oh we've always known Cole was one of the greats". TFOH. Cole, Ib and the team built this s--- brick by brick. Cole's never been cool. Never been the favorite. Never been the chosen one. He's been so good the last five years that you really couldn't hate. But you know the snakes have been waiting on this moment. f--- em.

 

Apr 8, 2024

I thought “7 minute drill” was an appropriate response, no need to go crazy when Kendrick barely shot at Cole.

listening to “Might Delete Later” now, and every track where Cole’s saying he ready for smoke just seems like straight fraudulent talk.

 

Apr 8, 2024

What would be your take if Kendrick dropped a legit bomb on him. Not a jab. And then Cole came back with a bomb?

 

Apr 8, 2024

In 2010 when the "big three" were gaining traction, Cole was arguably the most popular in my area. I was only 15 at the time, but I remember thinking Drake was a hybrid of Trey Songs and Wayne lol. No one listened to Kendrick. Fast forward a few years later and Kendrick is acclaimed, Drake is massive and Cole is sort of just "there". I enjoy Cole's music but none of his albums have blown me away in the same way Kendrick's has. Nor has his music been as nostalgic or as bumpable as Drake's. I do think Cole is deservedly getting his flowers now, but he still needs to drop an indubitable classic (I like his first three albums, FOD is a personal favourite of mine).

Question to you though, why do the critics not favour his albums? I mean they're well-received for the most part, but Pitchfork in particular seems to s--- on every one. If I'm not mistaken they've never rated an album of his above a 7, while Drake has numerous albums rated higher than any one of Cole's. Why is this?

 

Apr 8, 2024

Might Delete Later lol, crazy how s--- played out lol.. I think I got the concept of the album.. all them songs are his thoughts, but he not sure he wanted people to hear it or tap into them lol. Bout like how say you typing a text out to send to somebody, but you just erase the whole text and not send lol. That’s some dope introspective s---. Or how people be writing long a--- statuses on Facebook that be airing out their frustrations, then go back and delete the s---

 

Apr 8, 2024

The main reason is because that space is filled with sheep. Which is something that I know first hand. And so the "Cole is boring" meme was a pretty easy way to get some likes and clicks back then and dudes just went with it. "Cole is lame" was just kind of a prepackaged take if you wanted to be a certain type of person at that time. I don't think there was much thought going into it. Just like if you were in the scene at the time, which was in Brooklyn, you knew what was supposed to be cool and what wasn't. And Cole wasn't. I had initially thought these people just didn't like his music but then I got to know the scene and found out it was just some bs. He was just like stigmatized where only a certain type of dude was J. Cole fan and you didn't want to be that.

Back when it came out, I talked to this dude Paul that wrote this feature (https://www.vulture.com/2018/04/j-cole-profile.html). He told me that Cole didn't really play the behind the scenes game that you have to play in order to be a media darling. And publications were snubbing Cole and Dreamville because of that. This is again something I have first hand experience with in my own field as a chef. It's all about relationships and the people with the best relationships with the outlets get the best coverage and the acclaim. Very similar to politics. People like Cole that are just kind of genuine, non transactional people, don't really excel in those spaces. Rap media, crazily enough, is stocked with a lot of the same type of overeducated, privileged and frankly woke people that dominate media/politics/education. Which is also why you'll see articles about Cole, or any other rapper that did this, getting "backlash" for their "controversial" bars. Which that s--- doesn't come from rap fans. That's 100% these people putting their culture on "the culture".

So, Koke, it's for the worst reasons, unfortunately. This s--- is all fake. The real people are the exception and not the rule.

 

Apr 8, 2024

I’d love that