J Cole and Drake, once seen as close collaborators and friends, now appear to be at odds—at least on a professional level. Throughout 2023, the two rappers seemed inseparable, releasing multiple collaborations and even embarking on joint tour dates. However, the dynamic between them changed dramatically after Kendrick Lamar entered the picture. The tension began when Drake took on Lamar in a heated lyrical battle, while J Cole opted to sit out and, according to some, may have shifted his allegiances.
Following this “Big Three” standoff between Lamar, Drake, and Cole, the Dreamville founder’s subsequent collaborations have been with artists who have clashed with Drake in the past. Among these are A$AP Rocky, Future, Metro Boomin, and most recently, underground rapper and battle legend Daylyt. On September 23, J Cole and Daylyt teamed up for a track titled “A Plate of Collard Greens,” which has sparked a heated conversation online, with fans speculating that some of Cole’s lyrics could be subtle jabs at Drake.
“A Plate of Collard Greens” is filled with clever wordplay, but it’s J Cole’s verse that has caught listeners’ attention. Throughout his bars, Cole references Michael Jackson—someone Drake has often compared himself to over the years. Most notably, Drake made a connection between himself and the King of Pop on his collaboration with J Cole, First Person Shooter, where he tied Jackson’s record for the most number-one singles by a male solo artist.
Cole’s verse in the Daylyt collab goes: “Dangerous as the king of pop, how well they spin your block,” followed by, “No moves, minimal, smooth criminals.” Fans were quick to point out that Drake has often positioned himself as a “smooth criminal” in both lyrics and interviews, heightening speculation that these lines were directed at him.
Another part of Cole’s verse adds fuel to the fire. “The whole gang doin’ insane amount of lean,” he raps, “This ain’t prescribed ‘cause there’s no doc’ for pain they harboring.” Interestingly, Drake recently teased a new collaboration with Lil Durk, where he talks about quitting lean. The song, reportedly titled “Discontinuing Wokhardt,” was previewed by Adin Ross on September 4. Fans couldn’t help but connect Cole’s lyrics to Drake’s personal battle with lean, which suggests that Cole might be addressing the Toronto rapper’s struggles with substance use directly.
While J Cole doesn’t mention Drake by name, the specificity of the references has left fans convinced that the two rappers are not as friendly as they once were. Cole’s lyrics are notoriously deliberate, and his word choices often carry deeper meaning. It’s hard to imagine that these references—especially those related to Michael Jackson and lean—are entirely coincidental.
Adding more intrigue to the situation is the announcement of J Cole’s upcoming album, The Fall Off, as confirmed by Trae the Truth. Fans are already speculating that the album may contain even more subliminal disses directed at Drake and perhaps others in the industry. As tensions between the former collaborators continue to grow, it remains to be seen whether Drake will respond or if the apparent rivalry will simmer beneath the surface.
Either way, one thing is clear: J Cole’s lyrics are creating waves, and fans are eager to see how the story between him and Drake unfolds next.