J. Cole has issued a public apology to Kendrick Lamar while on stage during his Dreamville concert, which has left a bitter taste in the mouths of some people.

Tupac vs Biggie, Nas vs Jay Z, Drake vs Meek Mill, Pusha T vs Drake happened, and arguably none of them would have mattered more than this lyrical battle that was brewing between J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar. 

After Lamar’s ‘Like That’ verse in which he dissed both Drake and Cole, fans of the Dreamville artiste were eagerly waiting for a rebuttal. They got it a week later in the form of 7 Minute Drill, which took the Internet by storm on Friday, April 5.

Since then, J. Cole has doubled back and apologised for what he is calling the “lamest, goofiest sh*t I’ve ever done in my life”. 

Too bad, many hip hop fans agree, since they were looking forward to a lyrical battle between the two master MCs for the top spot.

“I’m so proud of [Might Delete Later], except for one part,” Cole said. ”…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,” Cole added, referring to Lamar and Drake. “So, I felt conflicted ‘cause I’m like, bruh I don’t even feel no way.”

He then went on to explain that releasing the diss track did not sit well with him. “Spiritually, it [felt] bad on me,” he said, before prompting the audience to show some appreciation for Lamar. 

“I want to say right now tonight, how many people think Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest motherf*ckers to ever touch a f*ckin’ microphone? Dreamville, y’all love Kendrick Lamar, correct? [The crowd cheers] As do I.”

Then came the apology.

“I just want to come up here and publicly be like, bruh, that was the lamest, goofiest sh*t. I say all that to say it made me feel like ten 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’mma take that shit on the chin boy, do what you do. All good. It’s love. And I pray that y’all are like, 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.”

Though fans are split over the “anti-hip hop” apology. For J Cole to apologise in the middle of a battle, some claim it takes him outside the big three discussion. But some are calling him a hypocrite, since his songs make him seem as though he is always battle ready, but now he’s saying he has lost sleep because he made a diss record. 

On the other hand, there are some who are applauding the Dreamville CEO for his “growth”.