J. Cole has addressed Kendrick Lamar’s verse on Big Sean’s “Control” with a verse on Justin Timberlake’s “T.K.O. (Black Friday Remix,” a selection that also features Pusha T and A$AP Rocky.
Cole’s verse centers around a woman that plays “Control” on her cellular phone. Upon hearing the track, J. Cole responds.
“Cole to the rescue, never save a ho,” Cole raps on the track. “Hoes like to hide their behavior though / Thought you was a down-ass bitch / ‘Til I found that shit a couple days ago / I was home alone, next thing I know / That long ass verse from a song called ‘Control’ was on / The room got nearer, the tune got clearer / That’s when I seen the shit playin’ on your phone / Girl, what is that, ringtone? / Shit, not you too / Man that hype done got you too / Everybody and their momma gassed / Even my momma asked what I’mma do / Decisions, decisions / In case this is war, then I load up on all ammunition / If a nigga want problems, my trigger’s on auto / I’ll make sure that nobody miss him / Now pack up your shit, you don’t believe in me / I don’t need you, I got me, bitch / Same nigga moved to N.Y.C., bitch / Got a record deal and a college degree, bitch / Two gold plaques, I produced all the tracks / And I never-ever-ever lean on Jay Z, bitch / And after all that achievement / Real nigga never even went and got his teeth fixed / Now you try to play me, bitch / You try to fuckin’ play me / I ought to knock your ass out.”
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J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar have reportedly started working on an album together. In March, Cole spoke with MTV about their collaborative work and how competitive it is to rap beside one another.
“It’s mad competitive,” Cole said. “It has to be, because we both love it. We’re not gonna speak about it, it’s not gonna be like, ‘Yo man I killed you.’ It’s pride. You have pride in your craft and what you do, but to a certain extent. It’s not about who’s better verse, it’s about the song. But if it’s just for flexin’. You definitely wanna show out.”
In May, Cole confirmed that the album was being worked on and that the duo had a handful of songs completed.
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In June, Cole and Lamar appeared together on “Forbidden Fruit,” a cut off Cole’s Born Sinner album.
In August, Lamar spoke about Cole during his “Control” verse on Big Sean’s selection.
“I’m usually homeboys with the same niggas I’m rhymin’ with,” Kendrick Lamar raps on the song. “But this is Hip Hop and them niggas should know what time it is / That goes for Jermaine Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Wale / Pusha T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake / Big Sean, Jay Electron[ica], Tyler[, the Creator], Mac Miller / I got love for you all, but I’m tryin’ to murder you niggas / Trying to make sure your core fans never heard of you niggas / [and that] they don’t want to hear not one more noun or verb from you niggas / What is competition? I’m trying to raise the bar high.”
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In September, Cole responded to the selection in an interview.
“That’s Rap,” Cole said in an interview with Noisey. “That’s Rap music. That’s a part of the game. It’s natural. It’s fine.”
The track can be heard below, via Sermon’s Domain on Audiomack.
