Barack Obama weighs in on Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and J. Cole's ‘Big Three’ rap rivalry

Former President Barack Obama has weighed in on the ongoing debate about the “Big Three” of rap—Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and J. Cole—during an appearance on VicBlends’ DeepCut podcast.

As part of his campaign support for Kamala Harris, Obama was asked if Kendrick Lamar solidified his position at the top of the rap game after his recent feud with Drake and brief clash with J. Cole.

“Kendrick is a friend of mine. I’ve known him for a long time. He actually performed at the White House,” Obama shared. “I do think Kendrick has a unique status right now, not just because of this summer. He’s not just gifted; he’s serious about the message he tries to… he digs deep into himself.” The former president also revealed that when he and Lamar meet, they often talk about fatherhood, adding that Lamar is “taking that very seriously.”

Obama went on to praise J. Cole, who bowed out of the rivalry after releasing his track “7 Minute Drill,” stating, “I just talked to J. Cole last week. J is very high on the list.” Obama also compared the rivalry to the ongoing debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James, noting that JAY-Z, who’s from his generation, also holds a prominent place in his view of hip-hop.

Obama’s comments come as no surprise, as he has a history of showing support for Kendrick Lamar. In a 2016 interview with YouTube star sWooZie, Obama predicted Lamar’s dominance, saying, “You gotta go with Kendrick... his lyrics. His last album To Pimp a Butterfly was outstanding.”