J. Cole’s Competitive Spirit Prevented Him From Reaching Out To Drake & Kendrick Lamar

J Cole Addresses Competition With Drake & Kendrick Lamar

The Big 3 discussion is still a thing in modern day Hip Hop. I’m talking about none other than Drake, J Cole and Kendrick Lamar. These three rappers have managed to keep their pens sharp, reach critical acclaim, and succeed on the charts simultaneously.

However, there hasn’t been an occasion in history when we’ve heard all three of them on the same track.

J Cole who’s fresh off releasing his new album ‘The Off Season’ had an interview with Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez for the latest episode of Boardroom’s The ETC’s podcast.

 

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Cole details the parallels between ball and rap, as well as the competitive nature that comes with it. The Dreamville honcho also addressed how being competitive prevented him from getting close to Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

“I was so competitive early on that, even though we were all friends — I would say we’re all friends and friendly. Like, I’ve never been a reach out, you know what I mean? I’ve never been that person, especially when it’s competition involved,” he explained.

Jermaine compared his rivalry with Kendrick and Drake to basketball players working out with each other in the past. “Why would I work out with this n***a? I’m trying to destroy this n***a.”

“That was kind of my mentality early on but as I got older I realized like… no one is truly my peer or can truly relate to my life more than [Drake and Kendrick Lamar],” he continued.

“No one can really relate to that like like these dudes and I really genuinely fuck with these dudes. So like, I’ve been absolutely been trying to make an effort, like, as time goes on to strip the competition from it. Like, y’all n***as are cemented forever. I would hope that I’m cemented forever and if not, I will be when it’s all said and done.”

“You’re not going to be competitive against someone you don’t respect. You’re not going to be extremely competitive with someone you don’t respect. So it’s always a respect thing. I think now, it’s just a wisdom thing,” Cole continued. “It’s like, yo, you can never have it all. A hundred percent of people aren’t going to say Kevin Durant is the best player walk on the face of the earth.”

“A hundred percent of people are never going to say J. Cole is the best rapper breathing. You won’t get 90%. You won’t get 90% say Drake. You won’t get 90% say Kendrick. It’s never gon’ happen.”

Watch the interview below: