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Charlamagne tha God is weighing in on the long-running “Big 3” debate in rap—and in his view, that era is officially over.
Speaking on The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne explained that the idea of a “Big 3” only works if all parties are willing to compete at the highest level. According to him, when tensions between Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole were expected to come to a head, only two artists fully engaged.
Charlamagne noted that while Cole initially stepped into the moment, his decision to back away ultimately removed him from serious contention. From there, the situation narrowed to two—and in Charlamagne’s words, one artist clearly emerged on top.
He made it clear that his comments weren’t a knock on Cole’s talent. Charlamagne praised Cole’s lyrical ability and acknowledged that his upcoming album, The Fall-Off, is expected to be strong. However, he drew a firm line between skill and dominance, arguing that while Cole may be a personal favorite for many fans, that alone doesn’t make him the undisputed number one.
In Charlamagne’s eyes, the competitive moment that could have solidified a true “Big 3” has passed—and with it, the debate itself.
Charlamagne tha God explains why he believes there is no "Big 3" in rap anymore after J. Cole backed out of the beef with Drake and Kendrick Lamar 👀
— HotNewHipHop (@HotNewHipHop) January 21, 2026
"The reality is, there is no 'Big 3' anymore. Because when the Big 3 were supposed to engage, only two of them decided to engage.… pic.twitter.com/EsUz6XGt4l
