J. Cole’s New Song ‘Port Antonio’: Addressing Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and More – A Detailed Review

Nearly a year has gone by since J. Cole made headlines with his remarks on “First Person Shooter,”initiating one of the most notorious feuds in hip-hop history. In his verse, he declared himself, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar the “Big 3″of rap.

Recently, J. Cole dropped a new track titled “Port Antonio,”which tackles the myriad criticisms he faced during the rivalry, largely due to his choice to step back and avoid engaging in negative exchanges. Cole publicly addressed these sentiments during his set at the 2024 Dreamville Festival, stating:

“I know my heart. I know how I feel about my peers. These two ni**as that I been blessed to stand beside in this game let alone chase their greatness. So I felt conflicted cause like bruh I don’t really feel no way but the world wanna see blood.”

Amidst the ferocity of the 2024 rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, J. Cole unexpectedly released a mixtape titled “Might Delete Later”in April, featuring a track called “7 Minute Drill.”

In this particular song, he responds to Kendrick Lamar’s comments about the “Big 3″that were made during his guest appearance on “Like That,”included in Metro Boomin and Future’s “We Don’t Trust You”album, which had dropped shortly before.

“My text flooded with the hunger for a toxic reply / I’m hesitant, I love my brother, but I’m not gonna lie / I’m powered up for real, that s–t would feel like swattin’ a fly / Four albums in twelve years, n—a, I can divide / S–t, if this is what you want, I’m indulgin’ in violence / Put pictures in my home, aim the chrome at your eyelids,”- J. Cole raps on ‘7 Minute Drill.’

Two days after the mixtape’s debut, J. Cole addressed the allegations made in “7 Minute Drill”during his live performance at the 2024 Dreamville Festival, ultimately opting to remove the diss track from the mixtape and all streaming services, true to its title.

Lyric Dissection: Exploring J. Cole’s New Track ‘Port Antonio’

On October 9, 2024, J. Cole shared “Port Antonio”exclusively on his Instagram. Collaborating with producers DZL and Omen, the track features a smooth hip-hop vibe, sampling elements from Jay-Z’s “Dead Presidents”and Cleo Sol’s nuanced rendition of “Know That You Are Loved.”

Cole delivers captivating performances across two verses. The first verse highlights his journey to prominence as an artist hailing from North Carolina.

The second verse takes a more introspective turn, delving into his thoughts regarding the 2024 rap beef and his connection with Drake. Below is a summary of the prominent themes in “Port Antonio”:

• Legacy
• Competition
• 2024 Rap Beef
• Hip-hop Industry
• Status
• Allegations
• Rumor
• Controversies
• Fame
• Success
• Wealth

(Verse 1)

“Young Jermaine walked the straight and narrow / Minimum-wage jobs for dinero, but still, my mind was on the zeros / I fiend for the perks that was seen flippin’ birds, so / We was skippin’ church, but my eyes was on the sparrows.”

In this opening verse, J. Cole reflects on his upbringing, portraying himself as a disciplined youth who maintained focus despite challenges. He acknowledges that although he held “minimum-wage”jobs, he remained undeterred in pursuing his musical ambitions, along with the associated fame, fortune, and success.

“N—-s flippin’ pies, spendin’ thousands on apparel / S–t, I wanna shine too, I want dimes too / Jealous n—-s wanna know just how my rhymes blew / Mano y mano, I’m Bono, I’m you times two / Now I’m bougie, I done outgrew the fountain blue.”

J. Cole elaborates on the impacts of wealth around him, expressing a desire for similar success. The line where he compares his trajectory to Bono from U2 underscores his attainment of a respected status in the music world.

“But never forgot the spot where I developed my plot / To dwell at the top, the Ville, where all my skeletons locked / If I could do it all over, then I never would swap / I’ve seen good, I’ve seen bad, had my melanin mocked / I’ve seen lifelong friends turn to devilish opps.”

Continuing his narrative, Cole reflects on how success has influenced his humility, emphasizing his roots and where his artistic journey began. He draws attention to personal struggles, detailing past experiences of being marginalized for his skin tone.

“I was Mike in red leather, tryna tell him to stop / You better beat it ‘fore you see the heavy-metal get popped / He was a mean a– wing with a hell of a shot / But if no team draft King, he gon’ bet on the block / He wanna ball ’til he fall or ’til the federals knock.”

This intricately crafted line intertwines references to Michael Jackson and his iconic track “Beat It,”while also echoing themes of the ongoing rap feud, hinting at his feature in Metro Boomin and Future’s “Red Leather.”

While J. Cole publicly distanced himself from the beef, his contributions were seen as a means to mitigate escalating tensions.

“And sit his a– on a bench for movin’ careless with rock / You can’t relate, ‘less your father was not around / And your mother went out and found someone else and then brought them ’round / And they salaries then combine, when they married, it brought you out.”

Transitioning from personal anecdotes, Cole offers social commentary on the challenges faced by children raised in single-parent homes, sharing the perspective of experiencing a father’s absence and the complexities that come with blended families.

He reflects on the dynamics of his upbringing, hinting at both challenges and moments of support that contributed to his growth.

“Of that poverty, then you moved to a soft little part of town / So that when you back in the hood, you feel awkward about it now (Damn) / And your confidence start to drown / But the rappin’ gave you some positive thoughts, and you jot ’em down / You jot ’em down.”

As J. Cole narrates his family’s shift from poverty to a more favorable neighborhood, he portrays the resulting mixed emotions he feels when returning to his old stomping grounds.

He emphasizes how creativity flourishes in uncomfortable reflections, allowing him to articulate his feelings through writing.

The track’s hook sees Cole emphatically repeating the line “Y’all n—-s ain’t stoppin’ me,”likely directed at critics who presumed his retreat from the beef marked a decline in his artistry.

(Verse 2)

“Benjamin Button, Cole flows reverse time / To find deliveries good as mine, you gotta search primes / I’m scaling heights higher than birds can perch / Tryin’ to be something, hopin’ that peace comes to my cursed mind.”

Beginning the second verse, J. Cole compares his constant artistic evolution to the character Benjamin Button, who ages in reverse in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”This metaphor serves to illustrate his commitment to improvement and refusal to stagnate in his craft.

“One thing’s for sure, that I’ve matured from my first rhyme / I learned long ago, you can’t please ’em all, and it hurts tryin’ / In this game, where all you’ve got is your name / Like Durk, I’m smirkin’ at n—-s tryna besmirch mine.”

Reflecting on the backlash over deleting “7 Minute Drill,”he offers a nod to Lil Durk, emphasizing how his mature choices still attract attempts to undermine his status within hip-hop.

“Absurd times, where the fake get toted as wise / I can see hate in both of your eyes but the third’s blind / So you search lines / But you struggle, which explains the puzzled look on the dull face as the word finds / I hate what raps become but like do-not-disturb signs.”

J. Cole observes how hatred consumes both Kendrick and Drake, suggesting their inability to seek productive resolutions to their conflict. He expresses disdain for the current state of rap, marked by a predilection for drama over substance.

“Can’t knock it if I see it’s ’bout the dough / They instigate the f–kery because it’s profitable / But singin’ ‘stop the violence’ tunes when dudes in hospitals / I pulled the plug because I’ve seen where that was ’bout to go / They wanted blood, they wanted clicks to make they pockets grow.”

J. Cole offers a nuanced critique of the 2024 beef, insinuating that the conflict could be seen positively if it highlighted genuine issues to enhance the careers of artists involved. He voices concern over the violence that often accompanies such rivalries, indicating his foresight about the potentially dire consequences.

“They see this fire in my pen and think I’m dodgin’ smoke / I wouldn’t have lost a battle, dawg, I woulda lost a bro / I woulda gained a foe, and all for what? Just to attain some mo’ / Props from strangers that don’t got a clue what I been aimin’ for?”

In these lines, J. Cole elaborates on the potential fallout of engaging in the feud and the risks to his relationships within the hip-hop community. He dismisses the need for validation from those who do not recognize his true intentions.

“Since the age of fourteen, Jermaine is no king / If that means I gotta dig up dirt and pay the whole team / Of algorithm-bot n—-s just to sway the whole thing / On social media, competin’ for your favorable memes / To be considered best or live and rest? The weight of both things.”

J. Cole critiques social media’s preference for sensationalism over factual representation, referencing the dramatic exchanges made between Drake and Kendrick throughout the beef.

By mentioning “algorithm bots,”Cole likely alludes to conspiracy theories surrounding alleged manipulations of metrics—such as those raised during the feud.

“I understand the thirst of being first that made ’em both swing / Protecting legacies, so lines got crossed, perhaps regrettably / My friends went to war, I walked away with all they blood on me.”

J. Cole recognizes that Kendrick and Drake’s rivalry stemmed from their desire to assert superiority, yet he reflects on the serious fallout from their exchanges. He symbolizes himself as the innocent bystander who left the fray with the repercussions of his peers’ actions weighing heavily on him.

“Now some will discredit me, try wipe away my pedigree / But please, find a n—a out that’s rappin’ this incredibly, uh / My dawg texted me, I’ll share the words he said to me / ‘If you refuse to shoot the gun, don’t mean the gun ain’t deadly,’ uh / I guess in that metaphor, hypothetically, the gun is me / I text him back like, Guess a gun ain’t what I’m tryna be, my n—a.”

Once more, J. Cole affirms his choice to exit the beef out of respect for hip-hop and his contemporaries. He encourages listeners to recognize his lyrical prowess rather than frame it as a weapon for discord.

“They strip me of my spot and now I’m finally free, my n—a / They say I’m pickin’ sides, ayy, don’t you lie on me, my n—a / Then start another war, ayy, Drake, you’ll always be my n—a / I ain’t ashamed to say you did a lot for me, my n—a.”

In these closing lines, J. Cole articulates a sense of liberation from the constraints of rivalry, feeling relieved that he no longer must cater to public anticipation for conflict.

He continues to address swirling rumors surrounding his collaboration with Metro Boomin and Future, which suggested he had chosen sides against Drake. J. Cole calls out these unfounded claims, asserting their intentions to reignite tension between him and Drake, a rapper who portrayed crucial support in his evolution.

“F–k all the narratives / Tappin’ back into your magic pen is what’s imperative / Remindin’ these folks why we do it, it’s not for beefin’ / It’s for speakin’ our thoughts, pushin’ ourselves, reachin’ the charts.”

J. Cole implores Drake to disregard the fabricated narratives circulating online and refocus on crafting hit music while evolving the industry. Through this lyric, Cole positions Drizzy as a transformative figure capable of driving the culture forward.

“Reaching your minds, deep in your heart, screamin’ to find / Emotions to touch, somethin’ inside to open you up / Help you cope with the rough times and s–t / I’m sendin’ love ’cause we ain’t promised s–t / My n—a.”

The track concludes with J. Cole encouraging Drake to continue stretching his creative horizons, noting the valuable role music plays during challenging times. The final line underscores themes of solidarity and love amid life’s uncertainties.

While it’s uncertain if Kendrick Lamar or Drake will respond to J. Cole’s remarks in “Port Antonio,”it’s worth noting that the OVO CEO expressed his approval by liking J. Cole’s Instagram post.

Source