Styles P has shared his thoughts on J. Cole’s apology to Kendrick Lamar amid their rap beef, conveying both his admiration and disappointment at the situation.
On Monday (April 8), the LOX rapper took to Instagram and shared a lengthy note about what he took away from the deescalation that shocked many and has left the Hip Hop community divided.
“The emcee with a competitive nature part of me is upset at that young man while the mental wellness take care of your spirit part of me is very proud of him [three crying emojis],” his post read. “He just confused the shit out of my frequencies [three crying emojis] but imma always go with the take care of your spirit and please y’all self before you worry about pleasing others!”
In the caption, the 49-year-old elaborated further: “My hypothesis is this is something that he never wanted to do but the nature of the game and what the people say can dictate your movement.Throwing jabs eventually leads to throwing power shots at some point and that ain’t his thing or something he wants to do with his fam so he chose to bow out gracefully, never knock a man for bowing out gracefully or choosing to protect his spirit whether you or agree or not that took courage to do.
“I respect the high vibrations part of it all !! I did want to see a lyrical war though that because I’m a petty emcee [three crying emojis] but I salute the young king for being himself.”
During his headlining set at Dreamville Festival last week, Cole pulled out of his competitive spat with K.Dot just days after dropping the diss track “7 Minute Drill,” which was released as part of a surprise mixtape titled Might Delete Later.
He admitted that he had been feeling unsettled ever since he clapped back at his peer from Compton in response to his verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” which also includes jabs at Drake.
“I’m so proud of [Might Delete Later], except for one part,” the Fayetteville MC told the crowd. “It’s one part of that shit that makes me feel like, man that’s the lamest shit I did in my fuckin’ life, right? And I know this is not what a lot of people want to hear.
“I was conflicted because: one, I know my heart and I know how I feel about my peers. These two n-ggas that I just been blessed to even stand beside in this game, let alone chase they greatness. So I felt conflicted ’cause I’m like, bruh, I don’t even feel no way. But the world wanna see blood. I don’t know if y’all can feel that, but the world wanna see blood.”
He went on to praise Kendrick, saying: “That shit disrupts my fucking peace. So what I want to say right here tonight is in the midst of me doing that, trying to find a little angle and downplay this n-gga’s fucking catalog and his greatness, I want to say right now tonight, how many people think Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest motherfuckers to ever touch a fucking microphone? Dreamville, y’all love Kendrick Lamar, correct? As do I.
“I just want to come up here and publicly be like, bruh, that was the lamest, goofiest shit. I say all that to say it made me feel like 10 years ago when I was moving incorrectly. And I pray that God will line me back up on my purpose and on my path. I pray that my n-gga really didn’t feel no way and if he did, my n-gga, I got my chin out. Take your best shot. I’ma take that shit on the chin, boy. Do what you do.
Cole concluded: “All good. It’s love. And I pray that y’all forgive a n-gga for the misstep and I can get back to my true path. Because I ain’t gonna lie to y’all, the past two days felt terrible. It let me know how good I’ve been sleeping for the past 10 years.”
