J. Cole’s surprise drop of his mixtape Might Delete Later has stirred up more than just excitement among hip-hop fans.
On the track Crocodile Tearz, the North Carolina rapper seems to have criticized Atlanta’s rap icon, Future.
In his bars, J. Cole asserts his position as the top dog in the game, subtly referencing Future’s nickname Pluto and making a possible jab at the drug-fueled themes prevalent in Future’s music. The lyrical volley has ignited speculation of a feud between the two artists.
The development comes after a growing divide within the hip-hop community, particularly since the release of Future and Metro Boomin’s collaborative project We Don’t Trust You.
The industry seems to be splitting into factions, with Drake and J. Cole aligning on one side, and Future, Metro, Kendrick Lamar, and Rick Ross on the other. Kendrick Lamar’s recent guest verse on Like That didn’t help, as it contained veiled shots aimed at both Drake and J. Cole, potentially deepening the animosity between the camps.
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Cole, for his part, has fired back with his diss track 7 Minute Drill, drawing comparisons to JAY-Z’s iconic “Takeover” aimed at Nas. Despite his past collaborations with Drake, Rick Ross seems to have thrown his lot in with Kendrick and Future, as evidenced by his social media activity and public actions.
Neither Future nor Kendrick have responded directly to J. Cole’s apparent shots. However, Drake seems to have responded with cryptic messages, indicating that tensions within the hip-hop community may continue escalating.
J. Cole sets record with The Off-Season
Meanwhile, J. Cole has achieved an enviable feat with his 2021 album The Off-Season in terms of sales.
The album, released on May 14, 2021, has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The American rapper’s sixth studio album features guest vocals from Morray, 21 Savage, Lil Baby, Bas, and others. Cole, Ibrahim Hamad, and T-Minus executive produced it.
