J. Cole calls out Trump and billionaires in new track 'Clouds'

"Cole really rapping better than Drake and Kendrick," says one fan on X, after J. Cole's latest release.

J. Cole is back with a vengeance. After a quiet 2024 following the Drake and Kendrick Lamar rap battle, the rapper has dropped a new single, "Clouds," that reveals a lot about his state of mind heading into 2025.

The moody track, driven by his signature singing voice, sees Cole making pointed references to both Donald Trump and billionaires. In one of the song's most striking lines, he raps, “I'm that bass in your trunk, the bullet that missed Trump,” alluding to an assassination attempt on the former president. He continues with, "The gun that jammed because it seemed God had other plans," further exploring his frustration with the political landscape.

The second verse of "Clouds" is where Cole really goes off, criticizing billionaires for their indifference to the world's problems. “Throw it in the pan and caramelize for richness,” he spits, adding, “Served on a plate with sirloin steak to billionaires who don't care the world's gon' break. Long as they make money off it, pain brings profit.” The song offers a raw look into the artist's thoughts on the inequality and corporate greed that has dominated the conversation in 2025.

J. COLE
CLOUDS

🚨OUT NOW🚨 pic.twitter.com/GIATq7pFfK

— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) February 21, 2025

Fans quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to react to Cole’s intense bars. One user wrote, “Say what you want about J. Cole but when he locks in and raps fr, there’s very few that can rap better than him,” while another chimed in, “If we being honest, Cole really rapping better than Drake and Kendrick.”

Say what you want about J.cole but when he locks in and raps fr, there’s very few that can rap better than him.

— LOVELY (@LoveIsback24) February 21, 2025

I feel like J. Cole lowkey spared niggas but we’ll talk about that another day https://t.co/lKiFFkOMQd

— II (@SmithTheIInd) February 21, 2025

If we being honest, Cole really rapping better than Drake and Kendrick. 😭

— A Lawyer you can trust (@LawyerYouTrust) February 21, 2025

Others seemed to appreciate his relentless flow, with a fan commenting, “J. Cole can’t hoop, but he don’t miss.” Another user observed, “J Cole is 40 and his pen keeps getting better,” praising the rapper for continuously evolving his craft.

J. Cole can’t hoop, but he don’t miss.

— Throttle-Jockey Jorge (@_naranjojr) February 21, 2025

J Cole is 40 and his pen keeps getting better pic.twitter.com/rDC7J8Wk1B

— chapo 🌹 (@MVPREESE) February 21, 2025

The single "Clouds" was released on Cole’s personal blog and gives fans a taste of what's to come, though it's unclear whether the track will appear on his highly anticipated upcoming album, The Fall Off. The album has been teased since 2018, and fans are eagerly awaiting its release.

On his blog, Cole explained, "I’ve been locked in on the music while also balancing family life," hinting that new material will be arriving soon. Fans are excited for what’s next, and Cole seems ready to deliver with yet another thoughtful, hard-hitting project.