J. Cole Addresses NBA YoungBoy Dispute on New Drake Collab

More than three months after Drake first announced his eighth album For All The Dogs in late June, he finally released it on all digital streaming platforms today (October 6). Among the whopping 23 songs on the track list for the LP, many of the music industry’s brightest stars show up and show out, whether it be SZA, Bad Bunny, 21 Savage, or more. But, one moment in particular had massive implications on the hip-hop community specifically, in more ways than one.

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The sixth song on the track list of For All The Dogs is “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole. However, while Cole and Drake connected earlier this year on Drake’s current Its All A Blur Tour, where Cole was brought out to perform, “First Person Shooter” actually didn’t come together until yesterday evening (October 5), according to Drake.

‌“I just got out the studio. Fourth quarter magic, me and Cole went crazy,” the Toronto rapper said last night during the Table For One episode of his Sound 42 SiriusXM radio show. “Me and Cole went crazy. Shoutout J. Cole. For all the Dogs. October 6. We’re here. I’m very very proud and I’m very, very grateful that any of you are still interested in what The Boy’s got to say.”

“First Person Shooter” now marks the third overall collaboration between Drake and J. Cole, following up early 2010s link-ups like “In the Morning” from the latter’s 2011 album Cole World: The Sideline Story and “Jodeci Freestyle,” made in 2013 and added to the former’s 2019 Care Package project.

One of the major highlights of the song comes during Cole’s verse, where he touches on his perceived beef with Louisiana rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. After fans believed he was dissing YB on his recent song “The Perfect Recipe” with Lil Yachty, released last week, Cole decided to clear the air on “First Person Shooter.”

I still wanna get me a song with YB
Can’t trust everything that you saw on IG
Just know if I diss you, I’d make sure you know that I hit you like I’m on your caller ID

[RELATED: Drake Finally Releases Long-Awaited Eighth Album ‘For All the Dogs’]

Also in his verse, Cole essentially referred to him, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar as a three-headed snake at the pinnacle of hip-hop at the moment. While doing so, he also alluded to his upcoming album The Fall-Off, expected to arrive soon even though a proper rollout has not yet commenced.

I’m namin’ the album The Fall Off, it’s pretty ironic ’cause it ain’t no fall off for me
Still in this bitch gettin’ bigger, they waitin’ on the kid to come drop like a father to be
Love when they argue the hardest MC
Is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me?
We the big three like we started a league, but right now, I feel like Muhammed Ali

Check out “First Person Shooter” below.

Photo by Josh Brasted/FilmMagic

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