J. Cole Opens Up About Kendrick Lamar Apology and Drake Beef

The rapper reflects on the fallout from the 2024 rap feud and why he decided to make peace with Kendrick.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:04pm

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In a new interview, J. Cole opened up about the fallout from the 2024 rap beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Cole revealed that despite the public tension, he still has "genuine love" for both artists and felt "miserable" about fueling the negative storylines. He discussed the moment he decided to apologize to Kendrick at the 2024 Dreamville Fest, saying the idea came to him just an hour before his set when he realized he was "giving life to division."

Why it matters

The 2024 rap beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar was one of the biggest lyrical wars in hip-hop history, with fans and media outlets taking sides. Cole's decision to publicly apologize to Kendrick during the height of the feud was seen as a surprising move that aimed to de-escalate the situation.

The details

In the interview, Cole described the days leading up to the Dreamville Fest as a "low point" for him, saying "That s**t had me feeling terrible... I can't really say it made sense." But an hour before his set, he had an epiphany, realizing he was "giving life to division and to negative storylines and negative perceptions on somebody that I f**k with and got love for." Cole's wife also saw how the situation was "weighing" on him, and he felt "even better" after deciding to apologize to Kendrick.

  • In 2024, a lyrical beef erupted between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
  • J. Cole apologized to Kendrick Lamar during his set at the 2024 Dreamville Fest.

The players

J. Cole

A North Carolina rapper who is part of the Dreamville Records label.

Kendrick Lamar

A critically acclaimed rapper known for his socially conscious lyrics.

Drake

A Canadian rapper who has had a longstanding rivalry with Kendrick Lamar.

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What they’re saying

“I admire these dudes, I got genuine love for these dudes. I hate to see the world s**t on either one of them in defense of the other. Even saying it out loud is a little silly.”

— J. Cole

“It hit me an hour before [his set]. Before that, I was stressing the fk out. The moment the idea came to me, I lifted. And I got light, and I got so excited because two or three days before that, it was... This is terrible. I felt like I misrepresented myself. I'm giving life to division and to negative storylines and negative perceptions on somebody that I fk with and got love for, somebody that I care about... We know why that happened in the first place.”

— J. Cole

The takeaway

J. Cole's decision to publicly apologize to Kendrick Lamar during the height of the 2024 rap beef between Drake and Kendrick showed his desire to rise above the negativity and maintain his relationships with both artists, even as fans and media outlets continued to stoke the flames of division.