Kanye West Ignites Feud: Disses Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole’s Music

Kanye West, now known as Ye, is once again making headlines, this time for his harsh criticisms of fellow hip-hop artists Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. In a recent passionate rant during a livestream with Drake affiliate Top5, Ye didn't hold back his opinions, sparking controversy and debates within the music community.

"I hate J. Cole," Ye declared, as reported by AllHipHop. "It can’t even be called music. I hate J. Cole." He further elaborated, "It’s something about both J. Cole and Kendrick that kinda, that leaves me sorta like—it reminds me of each other and sh*t like that. It's just not that sauce to me."

Ye's criticism didn't stop there. He also went after actor Ben Affleck, who included Kendrick Lamar in his personal Mount Rushmore of rap along with Lil Wayne, Slick Rick, and Eazy-E. Ye seemingly implied that Affleck's judgment was flawed, stating, "Anybody that say Kendrick is one of their favorite rappers, don't know about rap, doesn't know about real rap."

This outburst comes as a surprise, considering Ye's past collaborations and positive comments about Kendrick Lamar. They famously collaborated on "No More Parties in L.A.," and earlier this year, Ye suggested that only he could defeat Kendrick in a rap battle. "If you rap against Kendrick, you will lose. This man does this," he stated. He also praised Kendrick for his success against Drake, acknowledging his contribution to advancing the "frequency" of music.

However, this isn't the first time Ye has targeted his peers. He recently slammed Pusha T and Playboi Carti for excluding him from Carti's new album, *MUSIC*. He expressed his disappointment, saying, "I love Carti bro, but you don't take your position and your album we've been working on for 5 years to go against me. I ain't no joke."

Billboard reports that Ye doubled down on his animosity towards Cole, claiming that his music is for "virgins" and that he's "hurting hip-hop." He even referenced his remix of "Like That," where he raps, "Play J. Cole get the p---y dry." Despite the repeated attacks, J. Cole took a high road by showing Ye respect during his set at Dreamville Fest 2025, acknowledging Ye's contribution in clearing samples for him.

Ye's actions have ignited a discussion about creative differences, artistic expression, and respect within the hip-hop community. Is this a genuine expression of artistic opinion, or is it a calculated move for attention? How will Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole respond, if at all? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

• J. Cole
• Kanye West
• Kendrick Lamar