J. Cole in 2024: Here’s How the Hip Hop Giant Still Reigns Supreme Despite Taking a Blow From Kendrick Lamar

Published 09/27/2024, 12:05 AM EDT

via Imago

From fans to critics, everyone is still having a field day over the biggest rap battle of the year between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. But a minute rewind will take fans back to the spark that ignited the fire, J. Cole. After Drake stormed onto the scene, Cole seemed to vanish, especially after pulling his diss track, ‘7 Minute Drill,’ from streaming platforms. While he may have stepped back momentarily, it was never a total recoil as he had been busy plotting an exhilarating hip-hop comeback that is sure to keep those same critics wide awake, analyzing his latest fire verses.

From a knockout reputation to a strategic retreat, J. Cole is redefining his music game in 2024 like a true wizard.

J. Cole makes a musical comeback straight out of legend’s playbook

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J. Cole recently dropped some fire on Daylyt’s latest track, ‘A Plate of Collard Greens,’ which Complex Music has hailed as one of the year’s standout rap verses, diving deep into his lyrical finesse. According to the publication, Cole expertly weaves a multisyllabic rhyme scheme throughout his entire verse, ensuring that every word connects back to ‘Collard Greens.’

Complex Music highlights how this hip-hop titan cleverly incorporates double entendres in just a handful of bars. For instance, he raps, “My words is slick, when it’s my turn to kick,” cleverly using “turn to kick” as a homophone for “tourniquet,” which ties into the meaning of the next line. Cole also nails a recurring theme, pulling in Halloween references to pay homage to Michael Jackson’s legendary tracks.

“Lmao the Nerve of Some Ppl….” – Twitteratis React to J Cole Making a Plea to Kanye West

J. Cole’s verses on Daylyt’s track did not only grab Complex Music’s attention, but many more hip-hop critics. 

J. Cole’s latest verse has big names brainstorming his lyrical weight

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J. Cole might have stepped back from this year’s rap battle scene, but he never really stepped away from hip-hop. Instead, he took his time to leave hip-hop commentators in awe of his brilliance, and his verse on ‘A Plate of Collard Greens’ is a perfect example. Jah Talks Music on X crafted an insightful thread breaking down his bars, and one of the most striking lines features a cleverly layered lyrical scheme: “Gotta channel thoughts…”

The previous verse retains the memories of a kid who learned to read the caller ID before answering the phone to dodge debt collectors, but those overdue bills ended up getting his cable cut off. Now, Cole cleverly articulates the need to “channel” his thoughts, signifying the importance of brainstorming ideas while avoiding distractions that could cloud his mind. While this is just a glimpse into the depth of his lyrics, the full brilliance is on display in the track, which is available for streaming, showcasing his mastery at every turn.

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Did Kendrick Lamar Diss Kanye West Alongside Drake and J. Cole on His Latest Track?

What do you think of J. Cole's new verse on Daylyt's 'A Plate of Collard Greens'? Let us know in the comments below!

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Anushka Bhattacharya

1307 articles

I'm Anushka Bhattacharya, an entertainment journalist at Netflix Junkie. Armed with a degree in literature, I once wielded my words to catalyze change within society through my work with NGOs. However, as I stumbled into the exuberant hole of crime thrillers and documentaries on Netflix, it was love at first sight and pushed me into entertainment journalism.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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