𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅: 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑨 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝑻𝒐𝒐

• Disclaimer: J. Cole is my favorite rapper, but I’m keeping this debate objective. Word is bond.

J. Cole has been a hot topic in hip-hop recently for his decision to back out of the rap battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Apologizing and withdrawing from a rap battle is unheard of—and according to rap purists, it goes against the rules of hip-hop.

During the golden age of rap, fans wanted to see the greats go bar for bar, proving who truly deserved the crown. That’s what made Nas vs. Jay-Z so iconic. One of the biggest questions of our generation has always been:

Who is #1 out of the Big 3?

Depending on who you asked, the debate usually came down to Drake or Kendrick. Even J. Cole himself acknowledged this in his song "Heaven’s EP", where he rapped:

"Success is in the effort, so if a n**** tried his hardest*
I'm at peace knowing God ain't deal it in this group of cards for me
Some people say that I'm running third, they threw the bronze at me
Behind Drake and Dot, yeah, them n***** is superstars to me*
Maybe deep down, I'm afraid of my luminosity."

But over the last few years, J. Cole ascended to another level—sharpening his pen to the point where the game had to take notice. From his legendary feature run to dropping some of his best work since 2014 Forest Hills Drive, Cole was making a strong case as the best rapper out of the three.

Cole’s Moment of Truth

For years, fans often categorized the Big 3 like this:

• Drake is the best entertainer
• Kendrick is the best artist
• J. Cole is the best rapper

Before Kendrick’s insane run this past year, and before Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, it was quiet on Kendrick’s side, while Cole was steadily building his case for the throne.

So when Future dropped "Like That", featuring Kendrick declaring:

"It’s not the Big 3, it’s just me."

That was the moment.

Cole finally had a clear reason to step into a lyrical battle—one that had the potential to be a defining moment for this era. He and Kendrick could have had a legendary sparring match, proving who really held the rap crown.

But there was a problem.

Kendrick vs. Drake wasn’t just about rap—it was fueled by real animosity. Cole, recognizing where this was headed, had to make a choice:

Enter the ring and go to war against people he respects… or step back and stay true to himself.

For the dreamer himself, this was a nightmare scenario.

A Decision That Divided Hip-Hop

Cole initially responded with "7 Minute Drill", a solid track, but some of the lines felt slightly off-brand for him. Soon after, when he took the Dreamville Festival stage and publicly apologized, the hip-hop world went into a frenzy. I was initially disappointed because seeing Cole and Kendrick battle felt like a dream matchup—one that had the potential to go down in history. As a rap fan, I wanted to see it happen, and I didn’t agree with Cole going on stage publicly to address it. I wish he had kept it in the music because I felt it painted him in the wrong light.

However, in the end, I respect the move. Over time, fans have come to realize that Cole may have "won" the battle by not getting involved—especially considering what the Kendrick vs. Drake feud ultimately became.

For years, Cole has rapped about being the best, proving it time and time again. But after apologizing, fans started debating:

Can he still claim to be the best if he backed out of one of the biggest rap battles in history?

Can Cole Still Call Himself the Best?

I see it like this:

If Cole’s opponent was anyone else worthy, he would have continued for the love of the sport. But since it was Kendrick and Drake, two artists he genuinely respects and came up with, he made a personal choice to step back.

And I respect that.

But when Freddie Gibbs posted:

"N**as be rapping about how they kill rappers and kill they careers and blah blah blah but be backing outta rap beefs,"*

It reignited the debate: Can J. Cole still rap about being the best?

My Answer:

Life is a game of perspectives. Everyone is right, and everyone is wrong.

If Cole still wants to give us the bars we love, I support it. That’s his style, his cadence, and his artistry.

I get why fans are disappointed—this could have been one of the greatest rap battles of all time. But I’d rather an artist stay true to themselves than force something that isn’t authentic.

If Cole believes he’s still the best, then that’s his reality.

At the end of the day, you can’t win the internet or a debate on who the best MC is—it’s always a lose-lose situation.

But one thing will always be a win:

Recognizing who you are and staying true to yourself.

Regardless of what happened, The Fall Off is still my most anticipated album. I have no doubt it will be a classic.

Even in dreams or nightmares, we all wake up to our reality—and it’s up to us to define that for ourselves, no matter what people say.