Get the latest gossip

Is J. Cole’s ‘Might Delete Later’ Debut a Win or a Loss for the Conflicted Rapper?

J. Cole's 'Might Delete Later' mixtape debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, with its buzzy diss "7 Minute Drill" bowing in the Hot 100's top 10.

He was roped into the most buzzed-about beef in recent rap history last month when fellow superstar Kendrick Lamar sent apparent shots at him and collaborator Drake in his own Billboard Hot 100-topping Future and Metro Boomin teamup, “Like That.” Two Fridays ago (Apr. 5), he responded with his new mixtape Might Delete Later and its climactic answer diss, “7 Minute Drill” — before publicly backing off the rejoinder at his own Dreamville Festival the following Sunday, explaining that feuding with Lamar didn’t sit right with him, and announcing his intent to remove the response cut from streaming. Even if Cole hadn’t hastily removed “7 Minute Drill” from streaming services, I’d expect the track to attain an explosive chart debut and quick drop-off, since most listeners stopped by to hear the Kendrick disses without absorbing the actual song.

Get the Android app