I think everyone likes Cole’s consistency and I would say he’s the most like the underdog out of the big three. Where a lot of nikkaz see the improvement he has and respect it. But when it comes to Kendrick my nikka already has the classic albums he was killing features when he was starting up his career so to me he’s already established in his own way like how drake is established with the hits.
J.Cole is the late bloomer where you seen the potential and kept growing where Drake and Kendrick you already knew both those nikkaz were special. Kendrick to me will always be superior to Cole but if they go head to head Cole’s hunger now could put him a little bit over because Kendrick has been acknowledged and comfortable as one of the goats where now Cole is in it right now.
That's really all it is at the end of the day. Cole is in his prime right now in all aspects, which is crazy considering he's pushing 40 and most rappers are already over the hill at that age. When Kendrick was killing things consistently, that was the early to mid-2010s. When he released GKMC, had his "Control" verse, then followed it up with TPAB. Cole didn't start reaching that level until FHD, and the feature run was what really changed the perception of him. Kendrick gets unfairly shyt on because we've already seen his absolute best. That period from 2012 to 2017. Cole's in the middle of that.
The Off-Season was a perfect album, and if The Fall Off reaches or surpasses that quality, the conversation changes drastically. Cole showing everyone that he can be an album artist is all that's missing from his arsenal.
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