Renowned American rapper J. Cole, headlining the fourth annual Dreamville Festival, took a moment during his closing performance on Sunday to address his recent Kendrick Lamar diss track, “7 Minute Drill,” issuing a heartfelt apology to both Lamar and his fans.
During his set, J. Cole candidly spoke to the crowd, revealing the pressures he faced in responding to Lamar’s “Like That” verse and confirming that any perceived tension between the two artists was unfounded. He openly expressed regret for releasing the diss track, labeling it as the “lamest, goofiest sh*t” he’s ever done in his career.
J. Cole addresses beef with Kendrick Lamar and speaks on the making of "7 Minute Drill" at Dreamville Fest:
"I felt conflicted 'cause I'm like, bruh I know I don't really feel a way. But the world wanna see blood… so I say all of that to say, in my spirit of trying to get this… pic.twitter.com/BBOCsvGV7l
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) April 8, 2024
The controversial track, “7 Minute Drill,” criticized Lamar for various references, including allusions to Lamar’s iconic 2013 “Control” verse. Despite the confrontational nature of the song, J. Cole clarified that he holds no animosity towards Lamar and deeply regrets the release of the diss track.
The 2024 Dreamville Festival, held on April 6-7 in Raleigh, NC, marked its fourth consecutive year, boasting a star-studded lineup featuring J. Cole, SZA, Nicki Minaj, and 50 Cent, among other top-tier performers. The festival attracted thousands of eager fans who reveled in performances from a diverse array of artists, including Lil Yachty, ScHoolboy Q, Sexyy Red, Jeremih, Teezo Touchdown, Amaarae, Luh Tyler, Domani, Rema, Jeezy, Monica, Rae Sremmurd, Key Glock, TiaCorine, Chase Shaku, and the entire Dreamville roster.