This is a take that I feel to the utmost (lol) as a Cole fan. I think I’m a level headed Cole fan, though💀aight so here’s the take:
“I still think Cole rushed the song because the homies was in his ear. Had he thought it out a little longer he probably made a more mature diss. address the fact that he caught a stray from a COMPLIMENT. Like dawg get therapy type diss. He could sleep well after dropping that.” Propaganda
On top of the confusing humility and the discomfort Cole has going at K Dot (the Goat) the sense of being rushed hindered the believability factor, and I wonder if Cole had found another angle he could’ve maintained the respect he has for K while being like, “bruh, I ain’t deserve this stray. My Ali and big 3 line ain’t warrant all that.” The pressure Cole felt from the crowd made this situation bizarre.
I truly do love the way you dug into what Cole’s m.o. has been the whole time. The “I’m tryna be the best MC and none of you can mess with me, but i ain’t tryna contrive nothing.”
If anyone has something to answer for, it’s Aubrey 💀
My fault for how long this comment is, love this post tho.
Even as a rap fan the “who’s the best rapper out rn?” discussions led to a level of that battle sensibility. This is a great insight into it in a way I didn’t think about. Cole, Kendrick and Drake are artists I’ve enjoyed at different points in their careers and saying “oh all three are good” can feel like a cop out. “Ok but who’s the best tho”. Got me in fight mode too.
Many of the fans of these rappers like them for the music they did outside of battle mode. The worst thing would be dropping a diss track that wasn’t well received or having another rapper diss you with absolute artistry.
I think Cole’s best work is outside of the battle space.
This is well explained, Stanley. Thanks for writing it. Reminds me of a question Breanna Stewart got asked ahead of the Iowa-UConn game: “Does Caitlin Clark need a championship to be considered one of the greats in women's college basketball history?” Stewie said yes. Most athletes I saw answer the question agreed. Jalen Hurts made a distinction between “best” and “great.” He said the difference is winning championships.
Maybe I’m still in March Madness mode, but I enjoy a level of sport inherent to rap. “every element of hip-hop was initially based in COMPETITION,” said Andre Gee. “as long as it doesnt turn into foolishness its fair game.” I know that there’s a thin line between competition and foolishness, and just because rap has been something doesn’t mean it needs to remain that thing.
Also, Cole is well within his right to opt out. I hope it helps him sleep better. But I think we need to put the GOAT debate to rest as far as he’s considered because it implies a kind of competition he doesn’t have the capacity for.
This was another great read. I agree with you. We should celebrate people, especially men who own when their actions aren’t values-consistent and take a step back.
It’s also sad that Cole can’t seem to imagine a non-violent spar around who’s the best, which is the epitome of low-stakes drama. I guess I’ll have to wait for Romeo and Bow Wow to give us what we need.
A piece that was much-needed! A well-written, balanced and considered take that is pretty much impossible to argue against.
My main beef with Cole is that there were so many ways he could have played it and what he’s done is yet another example of his annoying people-pleasing trait that I thought he left behind after 2014 Forest Hills Drive.
Hip-hop is competitive, hip-hop is provocative and if you’re going to engage in some central foundations of hip-hop then you need to stand on it. Like Slim Charles said in The Wire “if it’s a lie then we fight on that lie but we gotta fight”.
This is probably the fourth / fifth time that Cole has had to publicly walk-back something and it makes one consider why he would even do it in the first place and, in a very uncharitable take, wonder if his acts of contrition is just a way for him to maintain his ‘nice guy’ persona.
I’m not one to question another person’s integrity, especially if it doesn’t sit right with their spirit but Cole needs to decide on what kind of rapper he wants to be. For a couple of albums, it seemed like it was storytelling but I feel like, after he saw the massive success of Drake and Kendrick, he wanted to be more confrontational which is fine but it comes with consequences.
I was excited when Cole claimed he was the best and I briefly believed it but doing that against a bevy of non-lyricists and one Griselda rapper isn’t going to cut it. This series of events has strongly made me reconsider the past 3-4 years of his career and briefly removed him from the mantle of my favourite rapper. I don’t know if I’m being too harsh and I’m holding Cole to an unrealistic standard of consistency that most people couldn’t achieve but it’s how I feel.
Sorry for the essay but this piece provided an outlet to get all these thoughts out (for which I’m grateful). Thanks 🙏🏾
Your circling around genre on this too, Stanley, really got me thinking about the buckets we create, need, get stuck in…
‘But rap has always been a competitive sport, and to be dominant, you have to be willing to destroy everything in your path.’
… the definitions we feel we need to follow for proper fandom, best/most appreciation, personal alignment. Makes me think so much about those artists in Jazz, apathetic to category (Makaya McCraven, et al) or refused it entirely (Coltrane & Miles most famously), while still working the levers, speaking the language.
Love this conversation, and you do it big justice. Thanks so much for it.
Imma keep it 💯 I only hwar ab2rap beefs on social media. I don't care about it except that in some cases it pushes artists to give their best. None of those artists are in my top 3, tbh but if it makes them give us their best, then so be it. Hey brother 👋🏽👋🏽👋🏽
Thanks for this write up. Cole’s apology reminds me how none of us, no matter how famous we are, are not too far from peer pressure and the need to be validated. This idea of being the best really has been bothering me over the past few days. Inherently, I know it’s part of who we are socially to think about the best and who’s number one, but we see the drawbacks of this approach. They are forced to come at one another for a spot that really doesn’t exist - only in people’s mind. In other sports you get a trophy maybe a bigger check but there’s nothing to really win when it comes to Hip- Hop. What’s really the point of it all bragging rights?
For me, I think the apology reminds me especially how human we are. He probably shouldn’t have did that track if didn’t “align” with his spirit. But we don’t often see a “sorry” in these spaces. I respect an apology- always.
Love this I also feel like part of the reaction to this was his own hypocrisy because he never had this reaction when women are involved (see noname for example). Also think it was odd that he said it had to do with friendship because where was the friendship when Kendrick dissed him?! Is it a one way street. Many many questions; hopefully he talks about it in an interview. Enjoyed reading this
Nah. I loved this piece.
This is a take that I feel to the utmost (lol) as a Cole fan. I think I’m a level headed Cole fan, though💀aight so here’s the take:
“I still think Cole rushed the song because the homies was in his ear. Had he thought it out a little longer he probably made a more mature diss. address the fact that he caught a stray from a COMPLIMENT. Like dawg get therapy type diss. He could sleep well after dropping that.” Propaganda
On top of the confusing humility and the discomfort Cole has going at K Dot (the Goat) the sense of being rushed hindered the believability factor, and I wonder if Cole had found another angle he could’ve maintained the respect he has for K while being like, “bruh, I ain’t deserve this stray. My Ali and big 3 line ain’t warrant all that.” The pressure Cole felt from the crowd made this situation bizarre.
I truly do love the way you dug into what Cole’s m.o. has been the whole time. The “I’m tryna be the best MC and none of you can mess with me, but i ain’t tryna contrive nothing.”
If anyone has something to answer for, it’s Aubrey 💀
My fault for how long this comment is, love this post tho.
We’re upset because we don’t recognize this behavior. 🔥
Even as a rap fan the “who’s the best rapper out rn?” discussions led to a level of that battle sensibility. This is a great insight into it in a way I didn’t think about. Cole, Kendrick and Drake are artists I’ve enjoyed at different points in their careers and saying “oh all three are good” can feel like a cop out. “Ok but who’s the best tho”. Got me in fight mode too.
Many of the fans of these rappers like them for the music they did outside of battle mode. The worst thing would be dropping a diss track that wasn’t well received or having another rapper diss you with absolute artistry.
I think Cole’s best work is outside of the battle space.
This is well explained, Stanley. Thanks for writing it. Reminds me of a question Breanna Stewart got asked ahead of the Iowa-UConn game: “Does Caitlin Clark need a championship to be considered one of the greats in women's college basketball history?” Stewie said yes. Most athletes I saw answer the question agreed. Jalen Hurts made a distinction between “best” and “great.” He said the difference is winning championships.
Maybe I’m still in March Madness mode, but I enjoy a level of sport inherent to rap. “every element of hip-hop was initially based in COMPETITION,” said Andre Gee. “as long as it doesnt turn into foolishness its fair game.” I know that there’s a thin line between competition and foolishness, and just because rap has been something doesn’t mean it needs to remain that thing.
Also, Cole is well within his right to opt out. I hope it helps him sleep better. But I think we need to put the GOAT debate to rest as far as he’s considered because it implies a kind of competition he doesn’t have the capacity for.
This was another great read. I agree with you. We should celebrate people, especially men who own when their actions aren’t values-consistent and take a step back.
It’s also sad that Cole can’t seem to imagine a non-violent spar around who’s the best, which is the epitome of low-stakes drama. I guess I’ll have to wait for Romeo and Bow Wow to give us what we need.
A piece that was much-needed! A well-written, balanced and considered take that is pretty much impossible to argue against.
My main beef with Cole is that there were so many ways he could have played it and what he’s done is yet another example of his annoying people-pleasing trait that I thought he left behind after 2014 Forest Hills Drive.
Hip-hop is competitive, hip-hop is provocative and if you’re going to engage in some central foundations of hip-hop then you need to stand on it. Like Slim Charles said in The Wire “if it’s a lie then we fight on that lie but we gotta fight”.
This is probably the fourth / fifth time that Cole has had to publicly walk-back something and it makes one consider why he would even do it in the first place and, in a very uncharitable take, wonder if his acts of contrition is just a way for him to maintain his ‘nice guy’ persona.
I’m not one to question another person’s integrity, especially if it doesn’t sit right with their spirit but Cole needs to decide on what kind of rapper he wants to be. For a couple of albums, it seemed like it was storytelling but I feel like, after he saw the massive success of Drake and Kendrick, he wanted to be more confrontational which is fine but it comes with consequences.
I was excited when Cole claimed he was the best and I briefly believed it but doing that against a bevy of non-lyricists and one Griselda rapper isn’t going to cut it. This series of events has strongly made me reconsider the past 3-4 years of his career and briefly removed him from the mantle of my favourite rapper. I don’t know if I’m being too harsh and I’m holding Cole to an unrealistic standard of consistency that most people couldn’t achieve but it’s how I feel.
Sorry for the essay but this piece provided an outlet to get all these thoughts out (for which I’m grateful). Thanks 🙏🏾
Your circling around genre on this too, Stanley, really got me thinking about the buckets we create, need, get stuck in…
‘But rap has always been a competitive sport, and to be dominant, you have to be willing to destroy everything in your path.’
… the definitions we feel we need to follow for proper fandom, best/most appreciation, personal alignment. Makes me think so much about those artists in Jazz, apathetic to category (Makaya McCraven, et al) or refused it entirely (Coltrane & Miles most famously), while still working the levers, speaking the language.
Love this conversation, and you do it big justice. Thanks so much for it.
Imma keep it 💯 I only hwar ab2rap beefs on social media. I don't care about it except that in some cases it pushes artists to give their best. None of those artists are in my top 3, tbh but if it makes them give us their best, then so be it. Hey brother 👋🏽👋🏽👋🏽
Thanks for this write up. Cole’s apology reminds me how none of us, no matter how famous we are, are not too far from peer pressure and the need to be validated. This idea of being the best really has been bothering me over the past few days. Inherently, I know it’s part of who we are socially to think about the best and who’s number one, but we see the drawbacks of this approach. They are forced to come at one another for a spot that really doesn’t exist - only in people’s mind. In other sports you get a trophy maybe a bigger check but there’s nothing to really win when it comes to Hip- Hop. What’s really the point of it all bragging rights?
For me, I think the apology reminds me especially how human we are. He probably shouldn’t have did that track if didn’t “align” with his spirit. But we don’t often see a “sorry” in these spaces. I respect an apology- always.
Love this I also feel like part of the reaction to this was his own hypocrisy because he never had this reaction when women are involved (see noname for example). Also think it was odd that he said it had to do with friendship because where was the friendship when Kendrick dissed him?! Is it a one way street. Many many questions; hopefully he talks about it in an interview. Enjoyed reading this
The post, and the comment section are top notch..like, this is the discourse I wanted on this topic.