J. Cole Breaks Silence on Kendrick Lamar Apology in New “Birthday Blizzard ‘26” Bars

J. Cole is not running from the Kendrick Lamar apology conversation anymore. He is rapping about it directly on a new freestyle from his surprise project, Birthday Blizzard ‘26.

On the track, Cole delivers a line that clearly references the fallout from his 2024 diss and public apology. He raps, “I used to be top, see, the apology dropped me way out of the top three. No problem, I’m probably my best when they doubt me.”

Cole is acknowledging what fans have been saying for months. Many believed his decision to apologize after the “7 Minute Drill” diss track removed him from the so-called Big Three conversation. Instead of denying that narrative, he flips it into motivation.

J. Cole Says Stepping Back Was a Reset, Not a Loss

Cole frames the moment as a choice, not a defeat. He suggests the top spot was not what he expected, so he stepped off, restarted from the bottom, and is preparing to climb again. It sounds less like regret and more like strategy.

This all ties back to “7 Minute Drill,” the track Cole released aimed at Kendrick Lamar before Kendrick’s high-profile battle with Drake dominated hip hop in 2024. Cole’s diss was not overly aggressive. He mainly criticized Kendrick’s music and called it boring, but it still sparked major discussion.

Why J. Cole Apologized to Kendrick Lamar

At Dreamville Festival, Cole shocked fans by publicly apologizing. He said the record did not sit right with his spirit and admitted the moment felt wrong. He described the move as lame and said the days following the release felt terrible. Instead of escalating tension, Cole chose personal alignment over rap competition.

The apology divided fans. Some saw growth. Others felt it hurt his competitive standing in hip hop.

How This Connects to “The Fall Off” Album

Now, with The Fall Off on the way, Cole appears to be revisiting that moment with a different perspective. His new bars suggest doubt fuels him, and the criticism surrounding the apology may have sharpened his mindset rather than weakened it.