“I would've lost a bro, I would've gained a foe, and all for what?” — J. Cole addresses backing out of Drake-Lamar beef on new song ‘Port Antonio’

Jermaine Lamarr Cole, a.k.a. J. Cole, addressed why he backed out of the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar rap feud back in April. On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, the rapper released his latest song, Port Antonio, on YouTube. In the verse, he raps:

"I pulled the plug because I seen where that was 'bout to go/ They wanted blood, they wanted clicks to make they pockets grow/ They see this fire in my pen and think I'm dodgin' smoke/ I wouldn't have lost a battle, dawg, I woulda lost a bro I woulda gained a foe/And all for what?"

While Lamar and Drizzy have been beefing since the early 2010s, things took a turn this year with both rappers dropping diss tracks after another, aimed at the other's career and personal lives.

Early on, J. Cole was a part of the feud, even dropping a K. Dot diatribe, 7 Minute Drill. But just days later, he publicly apologized to the Compton rapper and removed the track from all streaming services.

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"My friends went to war, I walked away with all they blood on me"- J. Cole addresses criticism he faced in 7 Minute Drill aftermath

It all began last October when Drake and J. Cole released their collab, First Person Shooter. In the song, the latter suggested that he, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar were the "big three" of the modern hip-hop scene.

However, Kenny during his guest appearance on Metro Boomin and Future's Like That (March 2024) rhymed:

"Motherf**k the big three, n***a, it's just big me."

Cole, on his track 7 Minute Drill, hit back, saying Lamar's career trajectory had "fallen off like the Simpsons." He even called the latter's album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, "tragic."

However, just two days later, during his show at the Dreamville Festival in North Carolina, he apologized for his "lame" and "goofy" response. Calling the track a "misstep," J. Cole added that he wanted to "get back to (his) true path." He even described feeling so terrible that he almost had a "relapse."

The rapper explained that he felt pressured to write a comeback, he said:

"I was conflicted because... I know how I feel about my peers, these two (rappers) that I've been blessed to even stand beside... But the world want to see blood."

Cole proceeded to praise Lamar's discography and called him "one of the greatest."

However, both his diss track and move to back out were criticized by fans and pundits alike. Many found that the song was allegedly a weak response. However, it also sparked conversations on men's mental health, black masculinity, and the competitive spirit of the genre.

In Port Antonio, J. Cole explained his reasons for stepping back, saying he saw where the beef was headed and chose to remove himself, reasoning that he would rather preserve relationships. The rapper also implied that the external forces were trying to profit from the beef.

The Born Sinner artist also addressed the criticism he faced for backing out, particularly those saying it left a negative mark on his reputation. He rapped:

"I understand the thirst of being first that made 'em both swing/ Protectin' legacies, so lines got crossed, perhaps regrettably/ My friends went to war, I walked away with all they blood on me/ Now some will discredit me, try wipe away my pedigree."

In the track, J. Cole directly addressed Drake, asserting that their friendship remains strong.

Both the song and his earlier apology to Lamar make it clear that the Dreamville Records co-founder refuses to damage his relationship with either rapper. Moreover, he chose his moral integrity over getting "props from strangers." As he rapped, "Jermaine is no king, if that means I gotta dig up dirt."

Neither Kendrick Lamar nor Drake have publicly reacted to the Port Antonio, as of now.