J. Cole‘s controversial apology to Kendrick Lamar has drawn strong responses from around the Hip Hop community — and a few in particular have irked the rapper’s Dreamville camp.
In an outspoken post on X on Tuesday (April 9), longtime signee Omen took issue with artists who appeared on the label’s chart-topping compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers III criticizing Cole’s olive branch.
“Watching all the opportunist that benefited from the ROTD3 stimulus package switch up is really entertaining. Keep that energy in person,” the rapper/producer wrote.
That sentiment was echoed by Bas, who shared a screenshot of a text message that read: “I’ve been told y’all n-ggas we the only family we got… but n-ggas always want to let the kids from across the street swim in our pool until they take a shit in it.”
He captioned the image: “the pool’s closed,” seemingly indicating that Dreamville would be cutting ties with those who have been critical of its founder and flagship star.
While neither Omen nor Bas mentioned specific names, a handful of artists who contributed to ROTD 3 have been vocal in their disappointment over J. Cole’s apology.
Guapdad 4000, who appeared on five tracks across the standard and deluxe versions, wrote on X: “Well that just bummed me out , it’s just rap man.”
He added: “Cole def just killed my spirit… but it’s his happiness not mine , it’s selfish to think other wise but I’m just a fan at the end of the day. If rap is not competitive I don’t want to do it anymore.”
Reason, who is signed to Kendrick Lamar‘s former label Top Dawg Entertainment and has worked with several Dreamville artists, also expressed his bemusement: “Idk man, I just….idk.”
Meanwhile, fellow West Coast rapper Buddy made light of Cole’s U-turn by retweeting a video of him Crip Walking while celebrating a Mortal Kombat-style victory which was captioned: “Kendrick Lamar in Compton after hearing Jcole Apoligized [sic] to him.”
Guapdad later addressed the controversy and denied Omen and Bas’ tweets were aimed at him.
“Gang not talking about me , y’all stop saying that,” he wrote. “Guapdad can always say whatever he wants but n-ggas know my loyalty.”
J. Cole’s apology came during his headlining set at Dreamville Festival this past weekend and was in response to him dissing Kendrick Lamar on “7 Minute Drill” — a rebuttal to K. Dot’s own shots at him and Drake on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.”
“I’m so proud of [Might Delete Later], except for one part. It’s one part of that shit that makes me feel like, man that’s the lamest shit I did in my fuckin’ life, right? And I know this is not what a lot of people want to hear,” he admitted.
“I was conflicted because: one, I know my heart and I know how I feel about my peers. These two n-ggas that I just been blessed to even stand beside in this game, let alone chase they greatness. So I felt conflicted ’cause I’m like, bruh, I don’t even feel no way. But the world wanna see blood.”
Cole went on to praise Kendrick: “That shit disrupts my fucking peace. So what I want to say right here tonight is in the midst of me doing that, trying to find a little angle and downplay this n-gga’s fucking catalog and his greatness, I want to say right now tonight, how many people think Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest motherfuckers to ever touch a fucking microphone? Dreamville, y’all love Kendrick Lamar, correct? As do I.
“I just want to come up here and publicly be like, bruh, that was the lamest, goofiest shit. I say all that to say it made me feel like 10 years ago when I was moving incorrectly. And I pray that God will line me back up on my purpose and on my path. I pray that my n-gga really didn’t feel no way and if he did, my n-gga, I got my chin out. Take your best shot. I’ma take that shit on the chin, boy. Do what you do.
“All good. It’s love. And I pray that y’all forgive a n-gga for the misstep and I can get back to my true path. Because I ain’t gonna lie to y’all, the past two days felt terrible. It let me know how good I’ve been sleeping for the past 10 years.”
Facts. Get all these snakes out of your garden
Cole’s not losing me, but when K-Dot comes with another shot, retract the apology and sharpen that tool, mfkr!
Deflection
The problem isn’t the apology the issue is he started the fight. You could’ve left Kendrick alone but you let Drake gas you to fight his battle.
Rapsody is now running North Carolina. Cole talking about he couldn’t sleep and shit and apologizing over creating a diss record. It is embarrassing and SUPER corny for J Cole. Damn right we are switching up on Cole. He cannot be mentioned in any hip hop debates ever again. And the wild part is Cole actually thought he was being honorable to apologize like that. Instead it is probably the weakest…softest thing to do in the history of rap. Cole should be embarrassed smh
J cole and kendrick keep falling off each year where as drake only grows stronger
Lol troll victory
This is what happens when you pander to ‘the culture’ that doesn’t care about you in the first place. The same nigs that call you a king and a god are the same exact people wanting those kings and gods to fight to the death for nothing. Then we blame it on an ‘algorithm’ or someone else that our community can’t move forward. This site and others like it make me fucking despise the very thing I grew up passionately loving. Those same people J-Cole risked covid for during the pandemic are the same people switching up on him now. No wonder we hate each other so much
I’m so sick of seeing people spout this bullshit sentiment. No one wants any violence to happen, PERIOD. But that’s the only way you pussies can have any legitimate critique; by completely misrepresenting the situation and making it out as if we all want to see blood drawn. No moron. We want to see competition in the hip hop space.
Hysterical people defending Cole pussing out like it was a “fight to the death”. Seriously get the f over yourselves, it was some rap competition. At this point Cole fans are looking like the biggest wimps on earth. It’s funny people acting like a couple of mid disses are going to get people killed and some simp that spends his time crying and throwing out subliminals is someone to fear. Hip hop is laughable these days when the podcasters go harder than the rappers.
Exactly 💯. ” they want blood”, “fight to the death” smh it’s a battle of words and wits. You can’t run around calling yourself the best and then switch up when challenged. This ain’t beef, it’s a battle to be the best.
Cole made the wrong move shoulda just took Nas approach, elevate his own status until Kendrick really fired at him. Would of loved to see another “1985” or “Fire Squad”. Cole got a way of showing respect but still calling out his competition, there was no need to attack Kendricks quality of music yet.
Kendricks voice is terrible, how can anyone listen to his shit
Kendricks voice is terrible, for real how can anyone listen to his shit
ATTENTION: Will the beyond pathetic simp fruity Scooby and the rest of the non-credible, fraudulent, embarrassing, laughable, corny, cringy, retarded DuncecapD/X SHIT STAFF: YOU SH0RT BUS RIDERS HAVE ALREADY REACHED YOUR OVER RATED AF FRUIT CAKE DRAKE AND KENDRICK LAMER/COLE DISS QUOTA FOR THE MONTH LIKE 38 ARTICLES AGO. STUCK ON STUPID AZZ MFERS GET DRAKE’S BUTT HOLE OUT OF YOUR MOUTHS AND GO GET REAL JOBS. THIS WHOLE RE T@RDED TR@SH STAFF ARE THE POSTER LOSERS FOR WHAT N0T TO BE IN LIFE.
Why do you keep coming back and commenting then bozo. Seek professional help
Cole’s verse was really funny and on the money, I don’t understand why it would bother him or make him want to retract the diss.
Wow these guys are all huge pussies