J. Cole Talks About The Conflict Between Drake And Kendrick Lamar And Acknowledges That The Negative Response To His Apology Had An Impact On Him

J. Cole has addressed the conflict involving Drake and Kendrick Lamar in his first series of interviews following his withdrawal from the notable rap battle.

In a discussion with Apple Music’s Nadeska Alexis about his latest album The Fall-Off, the artist explained why he felt the need to apologize to Kendrick for his previously released diss track “7 Minute Drill,” which has since been removed.

He shared that the thought to apologize came to him shortly before he went on stage at Dreamville Fest. He expressed that, after a few stressful days, he felt relief and excitement upon deciding to reach out to Kendrick. He emphasized his discomfort with creating division and negative narratives about someone he respects and cares for, stating that this realization made him feel terrible.

Cole also mentioned that his wife was emotionally affected when he informed her of his intention to reconcile, as she was aware of his feelings towards Kendrick and recognized the burden it had been on him leading up to this point.

He acknowledged the backlash he faced after his decision to make amends, noting that while he does not regret his choice, the criticism impacted his confidence. He described how his positive feelings after the apology contrasted sharply with the public’s reaction and the subsequent strain on his reputation.

Cole remarked on the difficulty of ignoring the criticism, pointing out that he received numerous messages from friends checking in on him.

In a separate conversation with Cam’ron, he shared insights about his current relationship with both Drake and Kendrick following their recent conflicts. He conveyed his genuine affection for both artists while admitting he had not been in regular communication with them.

He expressed discontent with the intense divisions among the fanbases of Drake and Kendrick and the negative attention Drake has received since the battle. He criticized the tendency for fans to take polarized stances and remarked on how unfortunate it was that some used the situation to diminish Drake’s reputation.

Despite the competitive nature of the scene, Cole congratulated Kendrick on his success post-battle, acknowledging the pride he feels for Kendrick’s achievements while also expressing regret for the backlash faced by Drake.