J. Cole shares insights on stepping away from Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud in ‘Port Antonio’
Rapper J. Cole surprised fans by stepping back from the intense conflict between fellow artists Drake and Kendrick Lamar, which had escalated into a serious feud. He is now discussing this choice in his new song, “Port Antonio.”
In April, during the peak of the feud following Lamar’s verse in “Like That,” Cole dropped the track “7 Minute Drill” but soon took a step back. At his Dreamville Festival in North Carolina shortly after, he expressed regret over releasing the diss track, calling it a “lame” and “goofy” move. This decision may have been wise, especially as the conflict was escalating rapidly.
Cole has remained active by collaborating with artists like A$AP Rocky, but this marks his first solo release since distancing himself from the heated exchanges.
The latter half of “Port Antonio,” which runs for 5 minutes and 16 seconds, addresses speculation that his departure might have affected his status among the top rappers of his generation. He raps, “I’m smirkin’ at folks trying to tarnish my name,” and later adds: “They took my spot, and now I’m finally free.”
He mentions that he decided to step back to avoid the negativity fueled by those eager for drama or those looking to cash in on the feud. “I pulled the plug because I foresaw where this was headed,” he raps. “They wanted drama; they wanted views to line their pockets.”
He also emphasizes that his decision was about maintaining friendships: “They see the fire in my pen and think I’m avoiding confrontation / I wouldn’t have lost a battle, man; I would have lost a friend.”
Furthermore, for those worrying that he may be siding with Lamar or that tensions with Drake have surfaced due to Cole’s stance on the feud (and his collaboration with Rocky), the “Might Delete Later” rapper clarifies the situation.
“They say I’m picking sides; don’t spread falsehoods about me … / Starting another conflict; listen, Drake, you’ll always be my guy,” he adds. “I’m not afraid to admit you’ve helped me a lot, my dude / Forget the rumors.”
Currently, the rapper is focused on finishing his much-anticipated album “The Fall Off,” which has experienced delays and has no set release date yet.
