Internet debates whether J. Cole's new song, "False Prophets," is about Kanye West
Chaos erupted online just hours after J. Cole released a new documentary this week to promote his upcoming album “4 Your Eyez Only,” as social media users pointed to lyrics about a rapper that sounded suspiciously like Kanye West.
In the song “False Prophets,” J. Cole sings about a rapper who’s “falling apart.”
“Life is a balance. You lose your grip you could slip into an abyss. Ego in charge of every move. He’s a star. And we can’t look away due to the days that he caught our hearts,” J. Cole raps. “He’s falling apart but we deny it.”
The documentary, titled, “Eyez,” which featured the song, was published on Tidal Thursday night — just a day after West was reportedly released from the hospital after spending nine days at the UCLA Medical Center. The 39-year-old rapper suffered from what one Entertainment Tonight source attributed to “sleep deprivation and exhaustion” and another source called “a mental breakdown.”
To some listeners, J. Cole’s song appears to be a direct dig at West, who exhibited several examples of erratic behavior in recent weeks.
“When he tell us he a genius, but it’s clearer lately. It’s been hard for him to look into the mirror lately,” Cole continued in “False Prophets.” “There was a time when this n***** was my hero maybe. That’s the reason why his fall from grace is hard to take.”
Social media users pointed out that Cole once tweeted about his admiration for West, calling him “one of the greatest artists of our generation.”
Though J. Cole has not yet commented on the question of whether the song is in fact about West or someone else, that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating.
If this new J Cole song is about Kanye, Imma get in my feelings.🙁 *gets in feelings*
— FunnyMaine.Com (@FunnyMaine) December 2, 2016
Wow J. Cole's new song is fire! "False Prophets". Is he talking about Kanye? Maybe. Is it all truth? I think so.
— Carmen (@Carm3nO2) December 2, 2016
Not sure how I feel about J. Cole's verse possibly about Kanye.. but I look up to both of them no matter what
— 👼🏻 DGH 👼🏻 (@G_Russ95) December 2, 2016
Some came to West’s defense:
Kanye has 5 classic albums and J Cole has zero. He need to be taking tips, not shots
— robert. (@NawRob) December 2, 2016
Kanye > J. Cole
— Trashvis (@Trashvis) December 2, 2016
Drake > J. Cole
Kendrick > J. Cole
Travis Scott > J. Cole
Young Thug > J. Cole
Lil Uzi Vert > J. Cole
Lil Yachty > J. Cole
J Cole has no compassion. He know Kanye just got out of the hospital...trying to send that man into deranged panic
— Bee Hoff (@hoffhogan) December 2, 2016
While others encouraged J. Cole’s artistic freedom:
J Cole's level of freedom is life goals man.
— Akim Hamlet (@AkimHamlet) December 2, 2016
This J Cole album might just save our 2016
— Vha Musanda (@freedom_ride) December 2, 2016
J.cole can do whatever the hell he wants, leave the man be
— Bertis Rodriguez 🖤 (@Bertis_Breezy) December 2, 2016
Whether you’re #TeamJCole or #TeamKanye, one thing’s for sure: There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for this argument.