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J. Cole has established himself as one of the greatest rappers of all time. He stamped that claim on First Person Shooter, where he declared himself, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar as the Hip-Hop “big three.”
J. Cole Gets Honest About His GOAT Status
As part of his media tour for his seventh studio album, The Fall Off, Cole appeared on Carmelo Anthony’s 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast. And one of the topics he addressed was where he feels he places in hip-hop’s all-time rankings.
Cole admitted that when he refers to himself as the greatest in his songs, it is mostly satire. But not how he actually feels. Because the reality is, he knows that other artists in the game are just as lyrically capable as he is.
“I say I’m the best at songs. Ask me in real life: Do I think I’m the best rapper alive? Bro, it’s a n***a named Black Thought that exists,” Cole remarked. “It’s a n***a named Lupe Fiasco that exists. It’s n***as that, on any given day, even my peers. A Drake or a Kendrick [Lamar]. I know on any given day, I can show up to the studio and give these n***as 80. But I know they can show up on any day in the studio and give me 80. And I might only have 30.
He also added, “If I’m taking on a rap persona when I’m rapping, that’s how I like to rap. And guess what? Sometimes I hit the mark, and I’ll spit a verse that really might have you believing that s**t.”
J Cole admits he be lying in his songs saying he think he’s the best
— Whooping feet (@WhoopingFeet) March 27, 2026
“It’s a persona & I really be having people believing that ish”
“In real life if u ask me if im the best no, I just put on that cape”
Black Thought, Kendrick Lamar, Lupe etc are better on any given day pic.twitter.com/h9SiCS8yfe
