J. Cole claps back at Kendrick Lamar's diss on surprise album 'Might Delete Later'

In his new song, “7 Minute Drill,” J. Cole claims Lamar’s work has lost its quality

Last month, Kendrick Lamar’s verse on one of Metro Boomin and Future’s collaborative tracks, “Like That,” immediately caught the attention of fans, who sensed a diss towards Drake and J. Cole. 

On the track, Lamar took aim at the two rappers for associating their success with his in their track, “First Person Shooter.” The Pulitzer Prize winner responded by establishing himself as distinct, “Motherf*** the big three, n***a, it’s just big me.”

While Drake has subtly referenced Lamar's diss during his ongoing tour, J. Cole opted for a more direct approach. He surprised fans with the sudden release of his new album, "Might Delete Later," which features a response to Lamar's diss in the closing track titled "7 Minute Drill."

In the song, the Fayetteville, NC native wastes no time addressing Lamar's diss, rapping, 

"I got a phone call, they say that somebody dissing / You want some attention, it come with extensions / He still doing shows but fell off like ‘The Simpsons’ / Your first sh*t was classic, your last sh*t was tragic / Your second sh*t put n****s to sleep but they gassed it / Your third sh*t was massive and that was your prime / I was trailing right behind and I just now hit mine.”

J. Cole also references Lamar's sporadic releases of "The Heart" series, suggesting that without the diss, nobody would be talking about Lamar’s music. 

The “No Role Modelz” rapper also announced he’s ready for a rap face-off with Lamar, “But push come to shove on this mic I will humble him.”

J. Cole's "Might Delete Later" includes twelve tracks, featuring guest appearances from artists like Ari Lennox, Gucci Mane, and Bas, among others. This surprise release follows his sixth solo album, "The Off-Season," which debuted in 2021.