J. Cole recently opened up about the complexities of his relationship with Kanye West, reflecting on the early moments that shaped their dynamic, particularly leading up to their collaboration on “Looking For Trouble” in 2010. Over the years, the bond between the two artists has been marked by both admiration and tension, and Cole’s recent comments shed light on some of the challenges they faced during a pivotal time in his career.
During a new episode of his Inevitable audio series, Cole recalled a moment that left a lasting impression on him. It happened ahead of the 2010 release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West’s critically acclaimed album. At the time, Kanye hosted a UStream session where he interacted with fans and discussed various topics. One fan in particular asked Ye whether he had plans to collaborate with J. Cole, and the response that followed, according to Cole, was dismissive, sparking a feeling of frustration that lingered with him.“Kanye’s answer was, like I don’t think anybody watching it would notice, but me being me, I looked at him like, ‘Aw, that sht was hella dismissive,’” Cole explained.
“I mean, we might put him on one of the G.O.O.D. Fridays or something.’ It was like a, ‘Yes, but.’ He’s not a n**a that I would.”
To Cole, this comment felt less like an endorsement and more like an afterthought. “If he would’ve been like, ‘Yeah, it would be fire to put him on a G.O.O.D. Friday [song],’ it would have been a different feeling.”Despite the initial disappointment, the relationship took a turn when Kanye called Cole a few days later, asking him to record a verse for the G.O.O.D. Fridays song, “Looking For Trouble.” At first, Cole hesitated, unsure of what to expect from the collaboration. “I didn’t have nobody’s verse. The n**a just sent me the beat. I didn’t know what the fck the song was!” Cole admitted. But Kanye’s persistent approach, along with what Cole described as a “polite flex” — Kanye’s way of asserting that the collaboration was going to happen whether Cole was on board or not — convinced the Dreamville founder to participate. “He was like, ‘I asked such and such and they make it happen,’” Cole explained, implying that Kanye was exerting his influence to make the track come together.
Ultimately, Cole agreed to record his verse, and what came next was a deeply personal response to Kanye’s previous dismissiveness. Cole reflected on his verse, admitting that it contained direct jabs aimed at Kanye. “The world has never known that,” he said. “Those were direct shots [at Kanye] because days prior I had seen the n***a be like, ‘Ah, we might put him on a G.O.O.D. Friday song or something.’” For Cole, this comment from Kanye felt like an indirect slight, and the verses he laid down were his way of expressing his feelings.
Although Cole did not explicitly name Kanye in his bars, he acknowledged that the shots were aimed at him. “And those are shots I know only [Kanye] would feel,” he said. This candid admission shows how, even in their collaborative work, there was an underlying tension that reflected the broader dynamic between the two artists. For Cole, Kanye’s dismissive comment was a catalyst for the emotional energy that fueled his verse.
The tension between Cole and Kanye highlights a pivotal moment in both of their careers. At the time, Cole was still an emerging artist, while Kanye was at the peak of his influence. The fact that Kanye would even consider working with Cole on G.O.O.D. Fridays was significant, but it was clear that their relationship had complexities that went beyond simple admiration. For Cole, Kanye was a mentor and an icon, but his journey into the music industry was not without its challenges and frustrations.
In hindsight, Cole’s reflections on this period show just how much he valued the opportunity to work with Kanye but also how his own pride and sense of self-worth shaped his approach to the collaboration. Despite the difficulties and tension, their relationship eventually evolved, and their music would go on to impact generations of hip-hop listeners.
Now, looking back, Cole’s openness about the tension between him and Kanye provides a deeper understanding of the dynamics that shaped their partnership and the way both artists navigate the complexities of the music industry. Through the lens of this collaboration, we see how pride, respect, and a little bit of competitive energy can all play into the making of iconic songs—and the personal stories that drive them.
