Jacob Brown
As the rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and J Cole took a brisk U-turn this week, music’s long history of beefs, fights, and diss tracks could eventually die out.
In the world of hip-hop, feuds are as common as rhymes and beats. Some endure for decades, while others flare up and fizzle out in the blink of an eye. One such recent spat involves two heavyweight rappers: J Cole and Kendrick Lamar.
A Swift Escalation
The tension between Cole and Lamar escalated rapidly. It began with the release of J Cole’s track “First Person Shooter” in October, where he, along with Drake, dubbed themselves hip-hop’s “big three,” including Lamar in the mix. While seemingly innocuous, Lamar took offense to the categorization, asserting his individual prowess in the genre.
The Diss Track
In response to Lamar’s rebuttal, J Cole fired back with “7 Minute Drill,” a diss track aimed squarely at Lamar. The song included biting lines such as “He still doin’ shows, but fell off like The Simpsons/Your first shit was classic, your last shit was tragic.” However, the reception to the track was mixed, with many fans and critics feeling underwhelmed by Cole’s approach.
Reflections and Apologies
During a live performance at the Dreamville festival in North Carolina, J Cole surprised fans by delivering a four-minute speech, publicly apologizing for his actions. The move caught many off guard, signaling a potential de-escalation of the feud.
The Nature of Rap Beef
The saga between J Cole and Kendrick Lamar underscores the volatile nature of rap beef. While tensions can run high and diss tracks can be launched with fervor, the aftermath often involves reflection and reconciliation.
As Rolling Stone aptly put it, “rap beef is a toxic, nonsensical arena,” where measured responses may not always prevail.
