J. Cole's apology to Kendrick Lamar creates a larger question for Hip-Hop

This apology will definitely age well. He proved himself to be a bigger and mature person

War in hip hop was about calling out transgression not tearing down accomplishments Cole understands the difference.

One thing that virtually nobody seems to have caught about Cole is that not only is he not afraid to compete, but he is quite specific on how he competes with other rappers. He competes by having the best verse on a song that they do together. There's so many bars stemming from KOD up to MDL where he talks about not getting smoked on a song or cooking other rappers on a feature. Again, the earliest example I can think of is the video for "Middle Child". Has anyone actually listened to the man??????

this kinda aged well cause its a bloodbath now

Aging well already shit got personal FAST

Drake doesn’t rap about guns in back to back why did Cole feel he needed to? If you the best you can make anything sound hard.

You obviously are a listener of Cole. With that being said, he's always rapped about MC's lying about who they are. I think this was a conceptual EP where he's rapping from the average MC's perspective. Everything is cap. He drops a few clues in his bars, like when he says he doesn't care about lying once he learned everyone was a fraud, and he forgot he was J. Cole. I'm surprised no one has picked up on it. I will say this though, you can't ask for smoke and then stop, drop, and roll soon as you see some seep under the door. It's unfortunate because the fall has been swift and unforgiving. I can't take him out of the big 3 like everyone else, because his pen and his rapping ability can't be taken away. I do however, have a conversation starter. Listen to Fire Squad and interpret the end of that song. Seems to align somewhat with his recent decision.

This was absolutely amazing.

Ok. I did my research and am finally caught up. I'm not disappointed that Cole walked tge diss back. I'm disappointed he couldn't compete with a clear conscience. Nobody forced him to write those lukewarm bars. I wish that he really wanted to compete and was able to find a way to do it that was still on brand but was razor sharp. Actually prove his big 3 boast with skill. Skill I think he has. But he permanently knocked himself out the running from the sport of hiphop but not the craft of rapping or the overall culture of hiphop. That's just my take

The greatest battle is the one against oneself and J Cole won that!

"But I do think that time is going to be veeery very friendly to this decision." YUP

Cole was talking big ish for the pass five years about him being that guy and bodying anybody who step up to challenging him. Then Kendrick had to remind him who he was. The diss track Cole did was recycled bars that didn’t hit like he expected it to, and he didn’t believe half the tuff he stated in it, hence why his spirit was in limbo. HipHop is about competitive bars. If you’re not built for it, don’t pop off. Let him be on his spiritual journey, but he better stay in that lane only. This wasn’t about no “bloodbath”. This would of been the safest battle ever in HipHop history, and we got robbed of bringing the spirit of HipHop back for the first time in years.

We clearly aren't ready to have this conversation. But everything you said in this video was 100% accurate

That slap box analogy was 🔥

Cole told everyone he was conflicted about going at Kendrick. I don't know why people are confused about why he changed his mind. It's obvious Cole is a top-tier lyricist/MC & could go bar for bar with Kendrick if he really wanted to. His higher self decided over his braggadocio side it didn't sit right in his spirit.

Man. What a fresh and different take of this. Enjoyed it, and will check you out again. Much love ✌🏼

I'm seeing a divide between those who think it's absolutely unacceptable to back down vs those who see it differently. Sometimes it takes wisdom to make that decision. And each moment is different.

This video quickly aged well😂

Best take I've heard about this topic! Subscribed!

that was sooooooo good bro GREAT POINT!!!