"Maybe there’s still hope for the collab album"— Internet reacts to J. Cole recalling his close friendship with Kendrick Lamar in the past

Fans of J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar are buzzing with excitement after the She Knows artist reflected on his close bond with the Compton-born rapper. On December 3, 2024, during an Inevitable audio series podcast appearance, J. Cole unveiled previously unreleased collaborations with Kendrick Lamar and reflected on their time together during Drake's tour in 2012.

However, according to a BBC report in October 2024, the relationship between the two artists has reportedly soured this year. Tensions surfaced when Cole collaborated with Drake in March 2024 on the chart-topping track First Person Shooter.

This collaboration underscored their belief in being part of hip-hop's "big three," alongside Lamar.

As J. Cole reminisced about the duo’s shared history, this ignited a wave of hope on X that the long-rumored collaborative album between the two lyrical giants might still see the light of day.

"Maybe there’s still hope for the collab album," one commented.

Several users on X longed to see J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar reconcile, highlighting the creative chemistry the two artists once shared. Fans reminisced about their collaborative potential, emphasizing how their dynamic represented a high point in modern hip-hop.

"Whatever happened between Cole and kendrick I want it settled! I still want that joint album... they used to be so cool when did it go all wrong ????" one more on X commented.

"Could’ve been on of the greatest duos in hip hop," another commented.

"This is so sweet. Too bad Cole got insecure after that Black Friday track," a third commented.

Additionally, some users speculated that J. Cole's involvement in the tension between Drake and Kendrick Lamar through the track First Person Shooter may have been unintended.

They suggested that Cole might not have anticipated the collaboration escalating into a significant lyrical standoff. Therefore, out of respect for both parties, J. Cole chose to step away from the feud after contributing just one track.

"y’all don’t realize cole was blindsided by the beef he didn’t know first person shooter would of had the outcome it did and that’s why he backed out of the beef," a netizen on X commented.

"This is the only reason Cole backed out. Head to head, Cole would have smoked Kenny," a user on X wrote.

"Too bad that midget was jealous of Cole," another wrote.

Kendrick Lamar has not publicly addressed J. Cole's recent comments, nor has J. Cole responded to the ongoing reactions circulating online.

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J. Cole looks back on his relationship with Kendrick Lamar

J.Cole and Lamar in 2014 (Photo by Taylor Hill/ Getty Images)

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, during the latest episode of his Inevitable audio series, J. Cole reminisced about the time he and Kendrick Lamar recorded music during Drake's Club Paradise Tour in 2012.

Cole shared that the duo spent two to three days working together, describing the experience as incredibly enjoyable and creatively fulfilling.

"He came to Fayetteville, and we worked on that studio bus for two or three days. Before, I had sent him joints, but this was the first time we actually got to lock in and work on sh*t. And that sh*t was so fun, dawg... It felt like when your cousin would come over to your house," Cole said.

In addition, Cole also expressed his belief that if they ever collaborated on an album, the result would be something “crazy.”

"I knew we would do something crazy if we ever got the chance to do an album. So we came up with a few ideas," Cole added.

Discussing their connection with Lamar, Cole further suggested that when the Compton artist dropped good kid, m.A.A.d city in 2012, Cole felt the same ambition as Lamar.

During the podcast, Cole’s longtime manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad, unveiled an unreleased collaboration between the two rap icons. Produced by Oddisee, the track showcased their undeniable chemistry.

A second track featuring a harder, more aggressive beat highlighted the pair exchanging intense lyrical performances. While the names of the tracks were not disclosed, it was revealed that A$AP Rocky was involved in the opening acts of both pieces, according to Hypebeast.

As of this writing, it remains unclear whether there is lingering tension between J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar. Despite speculation of a strained relationship following J. Cole's collaboration with Drake on First Person Shooter, neither artist has engaged in public disputes or exchanged jabs.

Additionally, there has been no announcement or indication of a potential collaborative album.