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Lil Yachty and J. Cole Share Video for New Song “The Secret Recipe”: Watch

By Matthew Strauss

Lil Yachty and J. Cole have come together for the new song and music video “ The Secret Recipe .” Check out the new video, directed by Lil Yachty and AMD Visuals , below.

While “The Secret Recipe” is J. Cole and Lil Yachty’s first collaborative song, the rappers share a bit of a history. In 2011 and 2012, when he was 14 years old, Lil Yachty tweeted a number of anti-Cole remarks , such as, “ i just dont like j.cole.... never said he wasnt good ,” and, “ FUCKJCOLE. ”

Years later, in 2016, Lil Yachty discussed the tweets in an interview , “I honestly can’t explain it. I don’t know why. Back in the day, I was heavy on saying, ‘Fuck J. Cole.’ I don’t know why. His music is so lyrical—let me clear this up.”

He continued, “I fuck with J. Cole as a person. I don’t listen to J. Cole. But I have nothing against J. Cole. I was young, and I was just talking shit, trolling. I never thought I was gonna be a rapper.”

Yachty concluded, “I have no issues with J. Cole or his music, and if we ever bump into each other, I don’t wanna any problems.”

Later, in December 2016, J. Cole released the song “ Everybody Dies ,” featuring the following lyrics:

Clap at the fake deep rappers The OG gatekeep rappers The would-you-take-a-break-please rappers Bunch of words and ain’t sayin’ shit, I hate these rappers ’Specially the amateur eight-week rappers Lil’ whatever, just another short-bus rapper Fake drug dealers turn tour bus trappers

The “Lil’ whatever” lyric, in particular, led many to believe that J. Cole was dissing Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert. After hearing the song, Lil Yachty said , “Honestly, I don’t give a fuck. I fuck with J. Cole, bro! I don’t listen to J. Cole, but I fuck with J. Cole.” He also brought up his teenage tweets and said, “I hope that he doesn’t feel any type of way.”

Lil Uzi Vert also responded to “Everybody Dies,” tweeting , “Heard some beautiful shit today @JColeNC 🔥💯. 😈®.” J. Cole, incidentally, recently collaborated with Lil Uzi Vert, co-producing the “ Blood Moon .”

“The Secret Recipe” follows Lil Yachty’s latest studio album, Let’s Start Here. , and J. Cole’s 2021 album, The Off-Season .

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• NBA YoungBoy

J. Cole Teams Up with Lil Yachty for New Song “The Secret Recipe”

by Thomas Galindo September 29, 2023, 3:29 pm

Lil Yachty ‘s 2023 just keeps getting better and better. Out of nowhere on Thursday night (September 28), the Atlanta-bred MC released a new song exclusively on YouTube titled “The Secret Recipe.” Including a feature from J. Cole, making for their first-ever collaboration, Yachty’s new offering consists of solely two verses, where both artists attack the beat with ferocity.

Videos by American Songwriter

Yachty opens the first half of the track with a glistening, massive chip on his shoulder, calling out unnamed skeptics for never giving him the credit he deserves.

The standards have collapsed, they wrote me in with lames They treat me like I’m them, they hate I overcame Refuse to pat my back, refuse to shake my hand Refuse to give me props when I am not around Refuse to act like I ain’t shift the sound, like I ain’t push the culture

Next, over the saxophone-infused production, Cole steps onto the recording with the justifiable confidence of a seasoned veteran, which he certainly is at this stage of the game. Including his patented basketball allusions and accusations of rappers that are “fake gangsters,” Cole meets his high standards with perceived ease.

These bitches out here lookin’ like Steph on the late contest Wide open, shootin’ they shot, don’t even waste your breath I been stop fuckin’ you thots, ain’t got no patience left Save that shit for one of them niggas that rock the fake Pateks My paper stretched just like a Laker before he break a sweat Signed, the greatest yet

[RELATED: Lil Yachty Offers Insight on Drake’s ‘For All The Dogs’]

But, while much of the hip-hop community was blissfully pleased with the arrival of “The Secret Recipe,” some fans felt that one of Cole’s lyrics was meant to be a diss towards fellow rapper NBA YoungBoy. Rapping Incomin’ call, press the button, the one that say accept / He FaceTime to ask for a feature and saw the face of death , J. Cole is thought to have been sending a shot at YoungBoy, responding to a diss YB aimed at him earlier this year.

On his song “ Fuck The Industry Pt. 2 ,” released in April, YB appeared to be angry with J. Cole about the fact that he chose to do a song with Lil Durk instead of him. Considering Durk and YB have been in a years-long beef, YB likely took Cole’s decision as a firm stance on who he supports in the dispute.

J a ho, that n***a played it cold, like he was gon’ do a feature So I texted his line a muscle sign, I swear it’s gon’ be nice to meet you

However, Cole’s manager and president of his Dreamville label Ib Hamad did not see it this way. Taking to Twitter on Friday (September 29), hours after the song was added to digital streaming platforms, Hamad called Fans’ theory far-fetched.

“I’m pretty sure this is [cap emoji],” he tweeted, as “cap” is a slang term for a “lie.” “Not sure how y’all heard that cole verse and put that together, impressive.”

I’m pretty sure this is 🧢. Not sure how y’all heard that cole verse and put that together, impressive 😂. https://t.co/VxBY8B3OX5 — Ibrahim H. (@KingOfQueenz) September 29, 2023

Regardless of the mild drama, “The Secret Recipe” is the latest addition to a special run from Yachty so far this year. Including an experimental, psychedelic rock album and multiple fan-favorite songs like “ Strike (Holster) ” and “ Half Doin Dope ” with J.I.D., 2023 has seen Yachty elevate to new heights, thanks to a newfound multi-faceted sound and stellar collaborations.

Check out “The Secret Recipe” below.

Photo by Josh Brasted/FilmMagic

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Lil Yachty on His Rock Album ‘Let’s Start Here,’ Rapping With J. Cole, and What’s Next

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

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Nowhere in the rap star manual does it say that a guaranteed formula for success is to “make psychedelic rock album with almost no rapping.” Yet that is exactly what Lil Yachty did with “Let’s Start Here,” his fifth full album but first rock project, after years as a top rapper with hits like “One Night,” “Minnesota,” “Oprah’s Bank Account” and guest spots on Kyle’s smash “iSpy,” Dram’s “Broccoli,” Calvin Harris’ “Faking It” and others.

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, the day after the Central Park show, Yachty, 26 — clad in an orange button-down, camo shorts and fuzzy pink slides, with elaborately painted nails — sat down with Variety to talk about the album, the tour, his new song with J. Cole, plans for the hip-hop album he’s already recorded, and what’s coming next.

Are these the first dates you’re playing behind this new album?

At the album listening session, people did not seem to know what to think.

No! I didn’t know what people would expect, but I knew they wouldn’t expect that. I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never been more confident with a body of work, so my chest was out. I didn’t think anyone would be like, “Oh, this sucks.” I genuinely felt like even if you didn’t like it, if you’re a music head, you’d have some kind of respect for the body of work itself, and for an artist to pivot and make something in such a complete, utter, opposite direction from what came before.

You said the people you played the album for included Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator — all of whom have made moves something like that in the past.

I’ll tell you, Tyler was a big reason for this album. He’ll call me at like eight o’clock in the morning — for no reason — and we’ll talk for hours. I was such a fan of [Tyler’s Grammy-winning 2019 album] “Igor,” his character and his way of creating a world — the color palettes, the videos, the billboards, the fonts. It’s all together. And I was like “How do you do that?” Because I was trying to figure out how to make a pop-funk-psychedelic-rock album cohesive, without it sounding like someone’s playlist. Then I started working on the visuals, and what I wanted to do was extremely expensive. To be quite honest, I don’t think my label believed in it enough to give me the budget that I truly needed for the visuals to bring this album to life, so I just made two videos.

Tyler and Drake both called me before my first show — I didn’t even tell them the show was happening but they both called me. That means something to me, because those people are my idols. I remember the day Kanye tweeted [Tyler’s 2011 single] “Yonkers,” I was in eighth grade. So them checking on me means a lot.

Is it a lonely feeling, sticking your neck out creatively like that?

Yeah, at first it was, but another thing Tyler taught me was not to be afraid of that. I was so scared before those first shows, like, “What if they don’t wanna hear it?” Tyler would always say, “Fuck it, make them feel you.”

Like, on the first show of this tour, I told the [sound crew], “Play psychedelic music before I go on, don’t play hip-hop” — but right before I went on they played a Playboi Carti song and I heard the crowd turning up and I was like, “Oh no, they’re gonna hate me!” And when I came out, I have in-ears [onstage monitors] and I have them set so you can’t really hear the crowd, it’s like dead silence. But I just kept going, and then my rap set comes and they go fucking crazy and that gives me confidence, and when I did the big rock outro on “Black Seminole,” they all started clapping. And for me it was the biggest “Oh, thank God,” because I couldn’t tell if they were fucking with it.

Is it exciting being in such a risky place creatively?

You were a teenager.

Exactly, But I still wanted respect, you know? I cared! My career was never solidified, I felt like folks were writing me off, so when I was making “Let’s Start Here,” I was at a point in my career where I did not have a hit rap record — it was like, “Man, this could really go left!” But I didn’t start thinking about that till I got deep into it. When I started, I was just like, “Man, I really love this stuff. Why don’t I hear anything like this now? No one makes psychedelic songs anymore.” I do psychedelics and I knew I wanted to make a psychedelic album. I love long songs, I love to just get deep into them — that’s why I love [Pink Floyd’s 1973 classic] “Dark Side of the Moon.”

I was on psychedelics when I first heard it and I would listen and just be like maaan. Like, bro, how can music make me feel like this? How can music make my brain just go to a new dimension? And how did you do that in 1973? I was like, can I do this? And obviously my answer was no. I mean, no offense, but how many rappers successfully made a rock album?

Almost none.

That’s what I’m saying. I think one of them was Kid Cudi’s rock album — I love it but a lot of people hated it. It’s not a full rock album, but it has a strong rock element to it.

Where did the rock influences come from, your parents?

My dad played a lot of Coldplay, a lot of Radiohead, John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz, a lot of John Coltrane, and I’m named after Miles Davis. My family loved James Brown, my dad loved Pharrell. He actually didn’t play Pink Floyd to me, but I’m glad I heard it as an adult.

I tried to make “Let’s Start Here” five years ago — “Lil Boat 2” was supposed to be “Let’s Start Here” with teenage emotions, but I was too young. I got too nervous to experiment on my rap record, and I didn’t have much experience or knowledge in alternative music. I met [“Let’s Start Again” collaborator] Jeremiah Raisan and tried again with the next album, but I chickened out and made another rap album. But when I had that conversation with Tyler, I was like “I’ve gotta do this, let me get that guy back.”

You had a hit with “Poland” — why isn’t it on the album?

That’s what I battled with, but at some point, you have to trust yourself. In the middle of making the album, “Poland” was a huge Internet hit and people were like, “You gotta put it on the album.” But I was like, it doesn’t fit! Just because it’s a hit record doesn’t mean it makes sense anywhere on this record. I was so focused on making my Black “Dark Side of the Moon.” And there is a small rap verse on the album, at the end of “Drive Me Crazy.”

You’ve said you recorded a hip-hop album after you finished “Let’s Start Here,” what’s it like?

What do you want to do next?

I get off tour around Christmas, and in January I’m starting a new album. I don’t know what it is yet, I don’t want to say “alternative.” I have rap album, but I just decided I’m gonna keep dropping songs [from it] until my next [non-rap] album is done.

Do you know who you want to work with on the next album?

So many people, obviously I want to do it on mostly with the band I made the record with, [writers/producers] Justin and Jeremiah Raisen, Jake Portrait and Patrick Wimberly. But I want to work with Donald Glover, I really want to work with Florence from Florence and the Machine. Sampha, Frank [Ocean], Buddy Ross, who worked with Frank. Chris Martin, Bon Iver, Solange, Mike Dean.

I’ve just been exploring, doing things that people wouldn’t expect. Even if I’m not the best at something, let’s just try, let’s explore, let’s create new things.

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J. Cole Reveals On Lil Yachtys ‘A Safe Place’ Podcast That He Doesn’t Charge Fellow Rappers For Features–‘I Wouldn’t Do That’

J cole was the latest guest on lil yachtys podcast 'a safe place' and revealed he doesn't charge for features..

J. Cole was the latest guest on Lil Yachty’s podcast A Safe Place and revealed that he doesn’t charge fellow rappers for features.

Quiet as kept, the Fayetteville rapper has been very active in 2023 but almost under the radar. He’s popped out at Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash , 6lack’s Los Angeles show, and ONE MusicFest with Janet Jackson . While in Atlanta to support Janet, he also dropped by Lil Yachty’s A Safe Space podcast and dropped a bombshell by revealing that he doesn’t charge artists he works with for features.

Source: Mindy Small / Getty

According to Complex , the North Carolina legend claims it’s because he actually wants to do the song, so he doesn’t mind hopping on for free.

“Yo, bro, it’s just a bar, bro,” Cole began. “Like, a lot of my bars be really on point but that’s just a flex. I’m not gonna charge a n***a $2,000 a word. I don’t even charge n***a for the verse, I’m doing this sh*t because I’m inspired to do it.”

He continued,

“I’m not charging n***as because, you know, I want to be on the song. I wouldn’t do that.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by 2Cool2Blog (@2cool2bl0g)

If J. Cole charged artists there’s no telling how much money he could make but it’s clear that greed is not his intention. Convincing J. Cole to get on your record however, might be harder than coming up with the money to pay him.

Elsewhere in the interview, Cole discussed Drake’s album For All The Dogs and his future music plans. In related news, J. Cole recently Cole hopped on Yachty’s “ The Secret Recipe “, surprising fans of both artists.

You can watch J. Cole’s full interview on A Safe Place below.

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Lil Yachty & J. Cole Join Forces On First Collaboration 'The Secret Recipe'

By Tony M. Centeno

September 29, 2023

J. Cole and Lil Yachty stunned the world with their impressive collaboration. On Thursday night, September 28, Lil Boat dropped the music video for his new single "The Secret Recipe" featuring J. Cole. The video begins with the Atlanta native rapping his verse over the jazzy instrumental, which is produced by Rawbone and Yachty himself, as he sits on a stage in front of drum set. Once he finishes, the camera pans over to Cole who's the only one seated in the audience. "Cole and Yachty, comin' for they respect, come and pay your debt/Just like a travel pillow, we at your neck for the way you slept," Cole raps.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by CONCRETE BOY BOAT^ (@lilyachty)

"This nuance but I see hella influence in the way you dress," he continues. "The way you sound, the way you try to move/You try to stay abreast on all the latest flows and the latest tones from generation next." This is the first time Yachty and Cole have ever connected on wax. Shortly after the song dropped, Cole took to Instagram to offer his thoughts on the record. He acknowledged Yachty's sonic evolution over the past few years and even requested to join him on his podcast. "Boat going crazy, waking the whole world up this year @lilyachty Lemme do the podcast 🙏🏾🙏🏾" Cole wrote.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cole World (@realcoleworld)

Lil Yachty has been on a roll since he kicked off the year with his experimental album Let's Start Here . Since then, the "Poland" rapper has come through with several notable bangers like "Strike (Holster)," "Slide" and his most recent track "Tesla." His latest single comes just a week after Yachty kicked off his "Field Trip Tour" featuring his all-female band. Watch the video for Lil Yachty and J. Cole's new song below. WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

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J. Cole Reveals He Does Not Charge for Features

“yo, bro, it’s just a bar, bro.”.

In a recent podcast of Lil Yachty ‘s A Safe Place podcast, J. Cole stopped by to discuss his collaborative process. At one point in the interview Yachty asked J. Cole how much he charges for a features.

To much of his fans’ surprise, Cole confirmed that he does features for free, “Yo, bro, it’s just a bar, bro. Like, a lot of my bars be really on point but that’s just a flex. I’m not gonna charge a ni**a $2,000 a word. I don’t even charge ni**a for the verse, I’m doing this shit because I’m inspired to do it.” Cole’s comments come shortly before Soulja Boy revealed that he charges $1 million USD for a feature. In a livestream Soulja Boy said, “If you want a verse, it’s gon’ cost you a M. You want a show, it’s gon’ cost you $100k.”

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J. Cole Drops Gems on Lil Yachty’s Podcast: Features for Free!

Hip-hop’s lyrical maestro, J. Cole, recently graced Lil Yachty’s ‘A Safe Place’ podcast with his presence, sparking a firestorm of conversation and revelations that have the industry buzzing. In a candid moment that’s captured fans’ attention, J. Cole opens up about his approach to collaborations, a hot topic that contrasts starkly with the million-dollar price tag Soulja Boy flaunts for his verses.

Unlike his contemporary’s seven-figure feature fee, J. Cole’s philosophy is grounded in the pure joy of creation. “Yo, bro, it’s just a bar, bro. Like, a lot of my bars be really on point but that’s just a flex. I’m not gonna charge a ni a $2,000 a word. I don’t even charge ni a for the verse, I’m doing this sh*t because I’m inspired to do it,” J. Cole shares with Yachty. This revelation is a testament to his commitment to the art form and a generous spirit that prioritizes collaboration over cash.

While discussing his musical journey, Cole reflects on achieving his first No. 1 track on the Billboard Hot 100 with his feature on Drake’s “First Person Shooter.” The chart-topping success was a “bittersweet moment” for the artist. He expressed a nonchalant yet grateful attitude toward chart positions, emphasizing the value of participation over competition. “If it would’ve went No. 2 it wouldn’t have mattered. I wouldn’t have felt no way… I’m still grateful I’m a part of it,” he states.

This episode of ‘A Safe Place’ has given fans an intimate glimpse into J. Cole’s artistic ethos, a refreshing take in a landscape often dominated by talks of streams and stats. By sharing his approach to features, Cole challenges the transactional nature of the music industry, advocating instead for a creative communion driven by inspiration.

The conversation between Lil Yachty and J. Cole is a treasure trove of insights for any hip-hop aficionado, and a reminder of the diverse perspectives that exist within the music industry. While some may measure success in dollars and deals, artists like J. Cole remind us of the profound satisfaction that comes from authentic expression and genuine connections.

For those looking to soak in more wisdom from the hip-hop heavyweight, the full interview is available for a deep dive into the mind of one of the game’s most respected voices. As for the musicians out there dreaming of a J. Cole feature, it seems the currency of choice isn’t cash—it’s creativity.

Stirred by the revelations from this heart-to-heart on Lil Yachty’s podcast? Follow the full conversation and get your dose of industry inside scoop. Stay tuned to stupidDOPE for the latest music news and cultural insights that keep you in the know.

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J. Cole Listens to 16-Year-Old Lil Yachty Dissing Him for First Time

Staff Writer

View this post on Instagram A post shared by

J. Cole's sit-down with Lil Yachty on his "A Safe Place" podcast is going viral, as they spoke about everything from Cole not charging for features to a collaborative album with Kendrick Lamar.

At one point in the interview, Yachty's co-host, MitchGoneMad, asks Cole if he knew that Lil Yachty dissed him on a song when he was 16. Cole stated that he knew nothing of the song, which led to someone handing him a phone to listen. 

At first, Cole didn't seem sure about it, but he admitted that the song was "hard" after listening further. You can check out the full moment above.

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Heat For Free: J. Cole Reveals That He Doesn’t Charge For Features, Says “It’s Just A Bar Bro”

Jermaine cole's comments come after the rapper, who is "first to do everything," soulja boy, claims he charges $1 million for a feature., share the post, share this link via, or copy link.

Source: Christopher Polk / Getty / J. Cole

J. Cole is best known for dropping albums without any features, but when other Hip-Hop stars throw up the Dreamville signal, he never lets them down, delivering straight heat. Now, many fans are shocked to learn that his lyrical prowess doesn’t come with a ridiculous asking price.

Speaking with Lil Yachty on a recent episode of his A Safe Place podcast , J. Cole spoke on his collaborative process. The conversation eventually landed on how much the North Carolina flame spitter charges for a verse and we were all shocked to learn he doesn’t charge for features.

“Yo, bro, it’s just a bar, bro. Like, a lot of my bars be really on point but that’s just a flex. I’m not gonna charge a ni**a $2,000 a word. I don’t even charge ni**a for the verse, I’m doing this shit because I’m inspired to do it,” Cole told Yachty.

Jermaine Cole’s comments come after the rapper, who is “first to do everything,” Soulja Boy, claims he charges $1 million for a feature.

“If you want a verse, it’s gon’ cost you a M. You want a show, it’s gon’ cost you $100k,” the “Turn My Swag On” rapper said to fans during a recent live stream.

We’re curious how much Trey Songz paid for that “LOL Smiley Face” feature.

J.Cole Has Thoughts On Him “Washing” Drake On “First Person Shooter”

Anyway, later in the podcast, sticking on the topic of features, Cole spoke about having his first No. 1 track on the Billboard Hot 100 with his feature on Drake’s “First Person Shooter.”

“If it would’ve went No. 2 it wouldn’t have mattered. I wouldn’t have felt no way. If the other song would’ve went No. 1, it’s like, bruh, I’m cool. If that other song would’ve gone No. 1, ni**a, I’m still grateful I’m a part of it,” Cole said.

By the way, many agree that J. Cole washed Drake on the track, including J.I.D and J oe Budden .

Consider us shocked that Cole doesn’t charge for features. This is just another reason his legend continues to grow in the Hip-Hop world.

But, also, when you’re really good at something, you never do it for free.

Just saying.

Photo: Christopher Polk / Getty

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J. Cole Reveals To Lil Yachty He Doesn't Charge For Features

J. cole reveals on lil yachtys ‘a safe place’ podcast that he doesn’t charge fellow rappers for features–‘i wouldn’t do that’.

J. Cole was the latest guest on Lil Yachty’s podcast A Safe Place and revealed that he doesn’t charge fellow rappers for features.

Quiet as kept, the Fayetteville rapper has been very active in 2023 but almost under the radar. He’s popped out at Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash , 6lack’s Los Angeles show, and ONE MusicFest with Janet Jackson . While in Atlanta to support Janet, he also dropped by Lil Yachty’s A Safe Space podcast and dropped a bombshell by revealing that he doesn’t charge artists he works with for features.

Source: Mindy Small / Getty

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According to Complex , the North Carolina legend claims it’s because he actually wants to do the song, so he doesn’t mind hopping on for free.

“Yo, bro, it’s just a bar, bro,” Cole began. “Like, a lot of my bars be really on point but that’s just a flex. I’m not gonna charge a n***a $2,000 a word. I don’t even charge n***a for the verse, I’m doing this sh*t because I’m inspired to do it.”

He continued,

“I’m not charging n***as because, you know, I want to be on the song. I wouldn’t do that.”

If J. Cole charged artists there’s no telling how much money he could make but it’s clear that greed is not his intention. Convincing J. Cole to get on your record however, might be harder than coming up with the money to pay him.

Elsewhere in the interview, Cole discussed Drake’s album For All The Dogs and his future music plans. In related news, J. Cole recently Cole hopped on Yachty’s “ The Secret Recipe “, surprising fans of both artists.

You can watch J. Cole’s full interview on A Safe Place below.

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J. Cole on collab album with Kendrick Lamar: “We put it to bed years ago”

On lil yachty’s podcast a safe place , cole said that the moment when the long-sought project could have been made has passed..

For almost as long as Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole have had major record deals, a very vocal and persistent portion of their fanbases have been asking them to collaborate on a full-length album. During an appearance on Lil Yachty 's very funny podcast A Safe Place , Cole once and for all let the world know: it doesn't exist and probably won't ever be made, since the two artists "put it to bed years ago."

Cole says that the prospect of the album was real "for a second" very early on Lamar's career. "In a nutshell, [Kendrick Lamar] had pulled up on me at [famed producer] No ID’s spot," J. Cole says. "This was after we was already building this relationship, and I had these beats at the time and I was playing them for him...in that moment, we talked about, ‘Yo, bro, we should do a project.’

Read Next: Kendrick Lamar shares new music in short film for Chanel

Cole says that the full-length collaboration was "a real thing" for a time, and the two actually recorded songs for it together. However, their respective schedules prevented them from ever seeing it through. "Time and life, we ain’t ever got the chance to go in and do it correctly, because that would take time, bro. For us to do something that’s full of our potential, that meets our real potential, you’re gonna need time... At least a year."

Watch Cole's full remarks below at 1:22:04. He promised more details on the project for a podcast to be released in conjunction with his upcoming album The Fall Off .

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J. Cole Opens Up About Inspiration For Highly Anticipated Album, ‘The Fall Off’

Written By Chris Samuel

J. Cole is ready to drop his highly-anticipated album, The Fall Off . The rap sensation recently offered a glimpse into the project's inspiration during a candid discussion on Lil Yachty's A Safe Place podcast. Cole revealed the creative challenges he faced after the success of his 2014 album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive , and how it influenced his artistic process. 

J. Cole Gets Candid

J. Cole is gearing up to release his highly anticipated album, The Fall Off , and recently shared some insight into the inspiration behind the project. 

During a candid conversation on Atlanta rapper Lil Yachty’s A Safe Place podcast, Cole discussed the challenges he faced after the success of his 2014 album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, and how it impacted his creative process. 

‘I Was Comfortable’

Reflecting on the aftermath of 2014 Forest Hills Drive , the “She Knows” rapper spoke about feeling too comfortable in his personal life, which affected his ability to write impactful verses. He admitted to watching TV series excessively instead of focusing on his craft:

“I got home, I was comfortable. I’m watching full [television] series. I never did that sh*t. Every day I open my laptop up, try to make a beat and then I try to write and when  I start writing I’d be like  ‘man this sh*t kinda ass if I’m being honest with myself’,” Cole said. He also said he  told himself “Oh you hella comfortable.” He felt that he lost a step in his writing with that realization. 

J. Cole is giving fans some insight to the inspiration behind his upcoming album "The Fall Off" #hiphop #hiphopnews #music #musicnews #rapnews #sohh #sohhdotcom #sohhnews #jcole #lilyachty #newmusic #newalbum #thefalloff #inspiration pic.twitter.com/qPRA4UiH4v — SOHH.com (@sohhdotcom) November 3, 2023

Cole’s self-awareness led him to realize that being comfortable had caused him to lose a step in his writing. Determined to push himself creatively, Cole considered The Fall Off as an opportunity to close a chapter in his career and showcase the highest level of achievement and skill he has ever reached:

“If I go out and close the chapter, not saying I will, but If I do, I want to do it at the highest level of achievement and skills that I’ve ever been in my life.” 

Cole described his recent collaborations and features as “exercises” to challenge himself and improve. These experiences served as a warm-up for The Fall Off , where he aims to prove something to himself and his fans. 

‘The Fall Off’

His dedication and growth resonated with fans on X, who eagerly expressed their anticipation for the album. 

One user commented, “ Bro said he’s been doing exercises and warming up, Can’t genuinely wait for The Fall Off.” Another user commented, “The fall off is going to be nuts.”

The Fall Off will mark J. Cole’s seventh studio album and his first since The Off Season, which was released in May 2021. The album does not have a confirmed release date. 

J. Cole x Lil Yachty

In other J. Cole news, he teamed up with Lil Yachty on the single “The Secret Recipe” in September 2023. Yachty previously said he wasn’t interested in Cole’s music in 2016, but they still collaborated and made a rap video with the setting being an empty auditorium. 

Busta Rhymes Says ‘Blockbusta’ Was Inspired While On Vacation

Coincidentally, another rapper who recently shared insights into his upcoming album is Busta Rhymes . Inspired by his interactions with legendary producers Timbaland , Swizz Beatz , and Pharrell Williams while vacationing on a yacht. Busta announced his album Blockbusta , set to release on November 24.

Written by Chris Samuel

Chris Samuel is a North Carolina native who has a passion for writing but is also a big history buff and is a sports reporter in the side. Chris is an avid hip-hop fan whose favorite artists include J. Cole , JID , Larry June , Griselda , Freddie Gibbs , NaS , Joey Bada$$ and also Old School R&B.

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© 2024 SOHH.com

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Should Drake and J. Cole Respond to Kendrick Lamar? Here Are Pros and Cons For Each

T he ball is in Drake and J. Cole ’s court.After Kendrick Lamar sent shots at his peers on “Like That” (read a whole breakdown of the situation here if you’ve been living under a rock), the rap world’s attention now turns to Drake and Cole. Will they respond? If so, how will they do it?

Drake and Kendrick have a long history of tension that dates back to 2013, following Dot’s infamous “Control” verse, and now their quiet beef has finally boiled over into direct jabs. Cole and Kendrick have always seemed to be on good terms—Cole spoke highly of Kendrick as recently as last November on Lil Yachty’s A Safe Space podcast —but he may have been hit with these shots because of his close association with Drake.

Now Drake and Cole have some decisions to make. Will they respond to Drake? If so, how should they do it? Under the assumption that they would each respond in music, rather than on social media, we broke down the pros and cons of Drake and J. Cole firing back at Kendrick. As K. Dot himself once said, “I’m usually homeboys with the same niggas I’m rhyming with/ But this is hip-hop and them niggas should know what time it is!”

Will Drake Respond?

Will j. cole respond.

Lil Yachty Launches His Label Concrete Rekordz, Backed By Quality Control And K-Pop Machine HYBE

Lil Yachty has been everywhere lately, collaborating with both major stars like Drake and J. Cole and rising stars like JID and Nemzzz . Now, he’s taking yet another step in furthering his rap dominance, announcing the launch of his new label, Concrete Rekordz. The label is named after his crew, Concrete Boys, who also comprise the roster, and is backed by the label that originally signed Yachty, Quality Control Music .

An additional wrinkle is that Quality Control is now owned by HYBE America , the stateside arm of the Korean entertainment company responsible for the success of K-pop groups like BTS, New Jeans, Seventeen, and Tomorrow X Together. In other words, there’s some serious muscle behind Concrete Rekordz, which accompanied the launch with the release of their new video for “Family Business.”

The Concrete Boys crew consists of Camo!, DC2TRILL, Draft Day, and Karrahbooo, who accompanied Yachty on his 2023 Field Trip Tour .

In a press release, Quality Control COO “Coach K” Lee said, “Yachty has always had profound vision since the day we met and to see him take his curatorial magic and expand it to discover and enhance other artists is exciting to me.” Meanwhile, his co-founder, QC CEO Pierre “P” Thomas, said, “I’m excited to see Yachty step into the role of executive alongside being one of the most formidable creatives in the world with such an eye for talent. Karrahbooo is a star and they are all going to be the new wave of cool that can bring something different to the culture that is so badly needed.”

You can check out the video for “Family Business” above.

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Kendrick Lamar Just Dissed Drake and J. Cole. Here’s Why.

Kendrick Lamar sent shots at Drake and J. Cole on “Like That.” Here’s a breakdown of the diss and a full explanation of how we got here.

Kendrick Lamar just sent shots at both Drake and J. Cole .

On Future and Metro Boomin’s new album We Don’t Trust You, Kendrick dedicates his “Like That” verse to refuting the concept of rap’s “Big 3,” commenting on Drake’s “sneaking dissing,” and poking fun at the Drake-Cole collab “First Person Shooter.”

On “Like That,” Metro cleverly samples Eazy E’s “Eazy-Duz-It” to set the stage for Kendrick, who gets everything off his chest about the cold war that’s been brewing between him and Drake over the past decade . The track is riddled with elite wordplay and real rapping, but the road to this diss record feels sudden. Here’s a breakdown of how we got here.

What did Kendrick say and what does it mean?

View this video on YouTube

Kendrick did not mince his words on “Like That,” sending several direct shots at Drake and some subliminals for J. Cole.

Midway through the verse, Kendrick raps, “Fuck sneak dissin', ‘First Person Shooter,’ I hope they came with three switches,” referencing Drake and Cole’s collaborative track on For All The Dogs . Kendrick is calling out how Drake notoriously loves sending subliminal shots without dropping names in his disses, and Cole gets included in the diss because of how Kendrick says he “hopes they came with three switches.” It seems Kendrick hasn’t enjoyed seeing Drake and Cole forming such a close public alliance recently, going on tour together and constantly praising each other, so he includes bars like, “Niggas clickin' up, but cannot be legit.”

Kendrick goes on to rap, “Motherfuck the ‘Big 3,’ nigga, it’s just big me/I’m really like that/And your best work is a light pack/Nigga, Prince outlived Mike Jack.”

Here, he overtly rejects the concept of the “Big 3” narrative that positions Drake, Cole, and Kendrick as the three best rappers alive , choosing instead to crown himself as the lone king, like he’s done before . He also shits on Drake’s discography by calling his best project a “light pack,” before slyly using Drake’s affinity for Michael Jackson against him by likening himself to Prince, another music legend who lived longer, before closing the verse with his most clever wordplay on the track: “For all your dogs getting buried/That’s a K with all these 9s, he ‘gon see Pet Semetary. ” The “K” and “9” refer to Kendrick’s initial and a 9-millimeter gun, as well as “canine,” which connects to his previous line that’s about Drake’s For All The Dogs album . 

The verse is littered with shots at Drake. Earlier in the verse, Kendrick raps, “D-O-T, the money, power, respect/The last one better/It’s a lot of goofies with a check,” calling back the iconic LOX song, but also saying that respect is more important than money and power, leading to a double entendre about “a lot of goofies with a check,” which references Drake’s Nike endorsement.

Why did he come after Drake and Cole now?

Drake and J. Cole have been friends for a long time (remember the video of them buying hundreds of copies of Born Sinner at Target a decade ago?) but they’ve been spending much more time together ever since Drake performed at Dreamville Fest 2023 . On tour together over the last few months, they’ve given each other flowers onstage several times, and their No. 1 record “First Person Shooter” features a hook that’s focused entirely on how Drake and Cole are “as big as the Super Bowl.” Kendrick hasn’t dropped any new solo music since 2022’s Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, and given how active both Drake and Cole have been over the last two years, the conversation of the “Big 3” has become more squarely focused on these Big 2 recently, which might have fired up Kendrick’s competitive energy and pulled him away from those backyard workouts .

Why do Kendrick and Drake have tensions?

The cold war between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has been bubbling for a long time now, dating all the way back to 2013 when Kendrick dropped “Control” and Drake seemingly sent a subliminal at him later that year on “The Language” when he rapped, “I don’t know why that they been lyin/ But your shit is not that inspirin.” Kendrick immediately shot back during TDE’s 2013 BET Cypher when he said, “And nothing’s been the same since they dropped ‘Control’ and tucked the sensitive rapper back in his pajama clothes.” 

Ever since then, there have been back-and-forth subliminals between the two for years, and some fans have theorized that Drake’s recent comments about not wanting to take a break from music in the form of “super-lengthy disappearances for the sake of mystery” might have been a shot at Kendrick, who is famously mysterious and even said that he had gone “months without a phone” during his time away from the public eye before dropping Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers . These guys have been very competitive with each other for the majority of their careers, and these petty jabs have now culminated in Kendrick sending direct shots at Drake.

Why did Cole get dissed, too?

Cole catching a stray in a Kendrick diss primarily focused on Drake reminds me of that 50 Cent “Why he say fuck me” meme, because it feels so random at first glance. Drake and Dot have a volatile history, but Cole and Kendrick have always been relatively friendly with each other. They’ve worked together multiple times over the years, most recently in 2019 when Kendrick lent his vocals for the Revenge of the Dreamers 3 intro “Under the Sun.” Cole also gave Kendrick praise during his visit to Lil Yachty’s A Safe Space podcast in November 2023, saying that he would “never verbally say he’s bigger than any of them niggas because I respect the swords, I know what they are capable of at all times” while discussing the “Big 3” debate and where he thinks he stands amongst them. 

Kendrick likely sent shots at Cole because of his proximity to Drake. On 2023’s “Evil Ways,” Cole raps, “High up in arenas where they see they favs/AKA me and Drizzy Drake, we the wave,” which could be perceived as Cole leaving Kendrick out of the conversation. However, while Drake made a point to emphasize how he and Cole are at the top of the rap game on “First Person Shooter,” Cole makes sure to acknowledge Kendrick on the same song, rapping, “Love when they argue the hardest MC/Is it K Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me?/ We the Big 3 like we started a league.” So he might just be guilty by association in this situation. 

Some fans are theorizing that Cole may have sent subliminal shots at Kendrick elsewhere on the song when he rapped, “Everybody steppers, well, fuck it, then everybody breakfast/And I’m bout to clear up my plate,” which could potentially be a reference to Kendrick’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. But that feels like a reach, because Cole spoke positively about Dot earlier in the verse, and also gave him props in Lil Yachty’s podcast which was released after the song had come out. 

Is Future beefing with Drake, too?

Fans are speculating that the title track of We Don’t Trust You includes shots at Drake from Future, who repeats, “Fake written all over you/Hate written all over you” throughout the song. At first glance, these lines could refer to literally anyone who has crossed Future, but in the second verse, he raps, “You a nigga number one fan dog/Sneak dissin, I don’t understand dog/Pillow talkin, actin like a fed dog/I don’t need another fake friend dog,” which is clearly aimed at someone more specific, and people think it’s Drake. 

The two of them have been close for a very long time, so Future could be referencing Drake when talking about “fake friends,” and the Toronto rapper has a history of so-called “sneak dissing” in his songs and on social media. This is all speculative, but considering the recent beef between Metro Boomin and Drake , and the fact that Future allowed Kendrick’s diss to be on his album, the fans might be on to something here.

Why is Metro Boomin in the middle of it all?

Metro Boomin and Drake have been quietly feuding for months now, even though the Atlanta producer claimed he had no problems with the OVO rapper at the end of last year. "Are u and Drake seriously beefing or is it not that deep," a fan asked Metro in a since-deleted series of tweets. Metro responded by saying, "Not deep at all lmao," but based on the lyrics in We Don’t Trust You, these sentiments clearly didn’t last. 

Back in December, Metro tweeted and deleted criticism about award shows, clearly upset that Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss won more awards than his album Heroes & Villains . "Her Loss still keeps winning rap album of the year over H&V,” Metro tweeted. “Proof that award shows are just politics and not for me. Idc about awards honestly, the true award and REWARD is knowing that the music I spend so much time on brings joy to peoples everyday lives."

Drake responded to these comments in a livestream shortly after, calling out all of the tweet-and-deleters. “And to the rest of you,” he said, “the non-believers, the underachievers, the tweet-and-deleters, you guys make me sick to my stomach, fam.” The two have since unfollowed each other on social media as well.

Metro hasn’t sent any direct shots at J. Cole, but fans have unearthed a tweet from 2011 where Metro called Cole’s music boring. “Don’t get me wrong. J. Cole is talented,” he tweeted at the time. “Anytime I can’t sleep , Friday Night Lights puts a nigga out cold. Sleep on track 1.” That was over a decade ago, however, and in Cole’s first Might Delete Later vlog , he revealed that he was in the studio at the same time as Metro, and even made a point to compliment the producer’s well-crafted beats, so it’s unclear if the two still have any lingering issues.

What’s going to happen next?

This is anyone’s guess, but if Drake’s history with rap beefs has taught us anything, he never forgets anything and he’s usually not afraid to fire back in some way. It wouldn’t be surprising if Drake addressed Kendrick’s bars (and possibly his strained relationship with Future and Metro) during the next stop on his tour with J. Cole. 

He could even go the “Duppy Freestyle” route and let an entire song fly. If that does happen, it could spark an exciting back-and-forth between Kendrick and Drake, something Dot has likely been waiting for after years of trading subliminals. This verse feels strategic on Kendrick’s part, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already prepared to respond if Drake fires back.

As for Cole, he has been on a ridiculous feature run over the last few years and it looks like he’s been gearing up for his next studio album, The Fall Off, so he’s in prime shape for any kind of lyrical sparring. “Like That” wasn’t really directed at him as much as it was at Drake (and he’s had a strong relationship with Kendrick up until this point) so I predict Dot will get a phone call from Cole before he gets a verse. 

Regardless, it’s always great for hip-hop whenever the biggest rappers in the game are actively challenging each other, and moments like this are bringing the exact kind of energy to the genre that it needs right now.

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