J. Cole Reflects on Kendrick Lamar Feud & Confirms He’s Not Retiring: ‘I’m Not Using That Word at All’
J. Cole says he no longer plans to retire, reversing his intention while making his 2026 album, *The Fall-Off*, to make it his final release. A sold-out arena tour after the album’s release helped change his mind, although he says he does not know when he will next release music.
Cole also discussed his conflicted response to Kendrick Lamar during their 2024 feud, saying he felt constrained by Lamar’s planned guest verses on the album and his own belief that he was nearing retirement. He released the diss track “7 Minute Drill”, then apologised to Lamar at Dreamville Festival and withdrew from the feud; the track was later removed from streaming services.
In short
- J. Cole says retirement is no longer in his plans.
- A sold-out arena tour helped change his mind.
- He reflected on apologising to Kendrick Lamar in 2024.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Cole’s decision to keep making music can be seen as an honest response to changed circumstances: the enthusiastic reception on tour showed him that he still values performing and has an audience eager to hear from him. His account of the feud also reflects a defensible choice to step back when he felt his response was shaped by pressure and his impending retirement, rather than by conviction.
The case against
Some listeners may feel that reversing a planned final album weakens the sense of closure that gave The Fall-Off its significance, especially if they had understood it as a deliberate farewell. In the feud, critics may argue that releasing a diss track and then withdrawing and apologising left his challenge unresolved, and that his later explanation does not erase the impression of an inconsistent response.
Explained simply
J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar are American rappers who rose to prominence in the 2010s and have sometimes been compared as rivals. In 2024, their tensions became a public rap feud, with artists releasing tracks that criticised one another.
Cole released “7 Minute Drill” in response to Lamar, but soon apologised at his Dreamville Festival and stepped away from the exchange. He later withdrew the track from streaming services. The episode drew attention because Cole had previously spoken about his music career nearing its end, shaping how he viewed taking part in the feud.