J. Cole Reveals Why Kendrick Lamar-Drake Beef Put Him In A Tough Spot

Mark Pitts had two very different reactions to J. Cole's public apology to Kendrick Lamar in 2024. As a mentor who'd helped guide the rapper's career for nearly two decades, he respected the decision. As a Hip Hop fan who'd been anticipating a lyrical showdown, he couldn't understand why Cole was walking away. Their differing perspectives became a point of discussion during a new interview, where Cole also admitted he hadn't been entirely honest with Pitts about what he was experiencing behind the scenes.

Sitting down with GQ, Cole recalled feeling overwhelmed as his involvement in Drake and Kendrick's feud intensified. He'd already recorded with Kendrick for The Fall-Off, leaving him in an uncomfortable position when the Compton rapper took aim at Drake and Cole on Future and Metro Boomin's "Like That." Although Pitts reached out to check on him, Cole admitted he kept much of his frustration to himself.

"I got to respond without responding, but still try to save face," Cole recalled thinking at the time. He also explained that he'd been creatively exhausted after working on The Fall-Off for years. Believing the album was finished, he'd started entertaining retirement and struggled to find inspiration. The pressure eventually resulted in "7 Minute Drill," Cole's response to Kendrick on his April 2024 project Might Delete Later. However, Pitts wasn't particularly impressed with what he heard. He remembered wanting a stronger record because he could tell Cole wasn't fully invested in the confrontation.

Pitts decided against contacting Cole immediately, choosing to let him finish his Dreamville Festival weekend. Before they could discuss the record, Cole surprised audiences by apologizing to Kendrick onstage and subsequently removing "7 Minute Drill" from streaming services. "As a man, I was like, 'I'm proud of you,'" Pitts recalled telling Cole. "But right now as a fan, what the fuck are you doing?"

Despite his initial surprise, Pitts maintained that Cole had made the right decision. He believed the criticism would eventually pass and that people would come to appreciate his willingness to walk away from a confrontation he didn't believe in.

The conversation adds another perspective to a decision Cole has revisited several times this year. In a March interview with Apple Music, he said he realized he'd misrepresented his feelings about Kendrick about an hour before his Dreamville performance. He also previously revealed that Kendrick had recorded two songs for The Fall-Off before the feud disrupted his plans.

Cole acknowledged that he could've leaned on Pitts more during that period. Rather than explain how much the situation weighed on him, he assured his mentor everything was under control. Pitts, who has spent years serving as the rapper's sounding board, suggested the apology ultimately matched the person he'd always known Cole to be, even if it wasn't the outcome Rap fans expected.