J. Cole apologized to Kendrick Lamar at Dreamville Festival in North Carolina on April 7, 2024, two days after releasing “7 Minute Drill,” a diss track aimed at Lamar. Cole said he felt pressured to respond but did not truly want a personal feud, and that the song conflicted with his own feelings and sense of peace.
What led to the apology?
The exchange began with Kendrick Lamar’s verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.” Cole released “7 Minute Drill” on April 5, 2024, in response. The Los Angeles Times described the track as 3½ minutes long; it closed Cole’s mixtape Might Delete Later and criticized Lamar’s catalogue and release frequency. Los Angeles Times
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At his headlining Dreamville Festival performance in North Carolina on April 7, Cole addressed the song in public. He said he was proud of Might Delete Later except for “7 Minute Drill,” called making it a mistake, praised Lamar, and told the crowd he loved him. Los Angeles Times
Why did J. Cole say he was sorry?
Cole said he had felt pressure to answer Lamar, but did not feel genuine animosity toward him. He described the song as something that “don’t sit right with my spirit” and said the situation disrupted his peace. The Los Angeles Times reported that Cole said the preceding two days had felt terrible and that he regretted challenging Lamar’s catalogue and greatness. Los Angeles Times
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At the festival, Cole called the track “the lamest shit I ever did in my fucking life.” He also asked the audience, “Dreamville, y’all love Kendrick Lamar, correct? As do I.” Those remarks framed the apology as a retreat from a diss he said did not reflect how he felt about Lamar. Los Angeles Times
Was this a personal feud between the two rappers?
Not according to the account Cole gave at the festival: he said he respected and loved Lamar, and that the diss was a misstep rather than an expression of personal hostility. NPR’s interview with Andscape senior culture writer Justin Tinsley described the two as peers with a previously cordial relationship and mutual respect for each other’s work. Tinsley characterized many listeners’ expectation as a lyrical battle, not a personal conflict; that is his interpretation, not evidence of how every fan viewed the exchange. NPR
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Cole’s explanation does not establish Lamar’s reaction. The cited coverage does not report a direct response from Lamar to the apology.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did J. Cole remove “7 Minute Drill” from streaming?
Pitchfork reported on April 12, 2024, that Cole had removed “7 Minute Drill” from Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. That report establishes the song’s status on those services at that time; it does not establish its current availability. Pitchfork
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