Rapper J. Cole has finally addressed his surprising decision to step away from the heated feud between fellow rap heavyweights Kendrick Lamar and Drake in his latest track, “Port Antonio.” The long-simmering tension between the three artists reached a peak earlier this year, with Cole’s withdrawal raising eyebrows among fans.
In April, amid the escalating exchange and in response to Lamar’s diss track “Like That,” Cole dropped his own response titled “7 Minute Drill.” However, he soon regretted the move. Just days later, during his Dreamville Festival performance in North Carolina, he publicly apologized to Lamar, calling his diss track a “lame” and “goofy” choice. Cole’s swift backtrack may have been wise, as the clash between Lamar and Drake continued to intensify.
Since then, Cole has been active on collaborations with other artists, including A$AP Rocky, but “Port Antonio” marks his first solo release since stepping back from the feud. In the latter half of the 5:16-minute track, he addresses fan speculation that his decision took him out of the running as one of rap’s top talents. “I’m smirkin’ at [people] tryna besmirch mine,” he raps, adding, “They strip me of my spot, and now I’m finally free.”
Cole further explains his decision, emphasizing his aversion to the negativity and the sensationalism that fans and media outlets feed off of. “I pulled the plug because I’ve seen where that was ’bout to go,” he raps, suggesting that others were eager to exploit the feud for profit. “They wanted blood, they wanted clicks to make they pockets grow.”
J. Cole remains a prominent figure in the rap world, most recently performing at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on September 22. Through “Port Antonio,” he sheds light on why he chose to take a step back, focusing instead on his music and personal integrity amidst the industry’s thirst for drama.
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