American rapper, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, professionally known as J.Cole, has spoken about his friendship with Kendrick and Drake, and why he no longer sees them as competition.
J.Cole, who recently made his debut with the Patriots Basketball Club on Sunday, holding his own on the court with three points, three rebounds, and two assists under 18 minutes of action, also released his new album, ‘The Off-season’.
On the rapper’s visit to “The ETCs” podcast with Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez, he spoke on how he regards fellow rappers, Kendrick and Drake, now.
J.Cole revealed he used to see Kendrick and Drake as his rivals in the industry even though he was friends with them.
He reflected on how he tried to always stay on the top competing with these two rappers but eventually he outgrew that and embraced more friendship instead of constant rivalry and comparison.
“I was so competitive early on that, like, even though we were all friends, I’ve never been a reach out, I’ve never been that person, especially when it’s competition involved. It’s almost like working out together.
“I guess in the NBA in the past that was unheard of. Like, ‘Why would I work out with this ni**a? I’m trying to destroy this ni**a.’ That was kind of my mentality early on.
“But as I’ve gotten older, I realize that no one is truly my peer or can relate to what I’m going through in life more than these people right here–just in terms of whatever pressures there might be… Nobody can really relate to that like these dudes, and I really genuinely f**k with these dudes.
“I’ve been absolutely trying to make an effort as time goes on, to strip the competition from me,” he said. “I’m more interested in the relationship ’cause I also see a time when I’m not doing this. That seems very realistic to me.
“I’m more interested in the genuine relationship. Before I was interested in the competition. Before I was just interested in putting pressure or responding to pressure… It’s just less competition in my mind ’cause ni**as is old, bro.”
Jermaine stated he has nothing but respect for them.
“It was always a respect thing. Now it’s just more of a wisdom thing where it’s like, ‘Yo, you can never have it all.’”
The rapper’s new 12-track studio album, ‘The Off-season’, has been rovering loud since its release. Was released on May 14, 2021 by Dreamsville Records, Roc Nation and Interscope Records.
