J. Cole is finally breaking his silence on why he decided to bow out of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake lyrical scuffle that took over most of 2024 and 2025. Source: Kevin Mazur/ Earl Gibson III / Cole Burston During a sit-down with Apple Music, inside of his childhood home, the Fayetteville-born rapper talked about his early exit from the rap beef between two of his most successful contemporaries. When Kendrick's initial shots in the beef rang out during his guest verse on Future's "Like That" record, he seemed to be taking aim at both Drake and J.