American rapper J. Cole has released a new track titled “Port Antonio,” named after the capital of Jamaica’s easternmost parish, Portland, and home to the iconic Geejam Resort, where Drake recorded much of his Views (2016) album.
The surprise track is a five-minute introspection on J. Cole’s relationships with Kendrick Lamar and Drake. In the song, Cole reflects on his past feud with Kendrick, while expressing gratitude toward Drake, acknowledging the significant influence Drake has had on his career.
Produced by Omen, DZL (Geejam’s in-house engineer), and Cole himself, the track also hints at a potential continuation of his highly anticipated album The Fall Off.
Earlier this year, J. Cole found himself in the midst of a heated feud with Kendrick Lamar. He responded to Kendrick’s “Like That” verse with the diss track “7 Minute Drill,” only to later walk back his actions. At his Dreamville Festival in North Carolina, Cole publicly apologized, calling the diss track a “lame” and “goofy” decision. His withdrawal from the beef seemed to be a smart move, as tensions were escalating.
Though Cole has remained active in collaborations, including a recent feature with A$AP Rocky, “Port Antonio” marks his first solo release since distancing himself from the conflict. In the latter half of the song, Cole addresses fan speculation that stepping back from the feud affected his reputation as one of the top rappers of his generation. He dismisses those concerns, rapping, “They strip me of my spot, and now I’m finally free.”
Watch below:
