J. Cole Drops Surprise EP Reflecting on Kendrick Lamar Apology

J. Cole surprised fans with a new EP of freestyles on January 27, just hours before his 41st birthday, revisiting his public apology to Kendrick Lamar and reflecting on his place in hip-hop amid anticipation for his upcoming album.

Titled Birthday Blizzard 26 and hosted by DJ Clue, the project features four tracks available for purchase on Cole's website starting at $1, with an option to pay more. The release includes Bronx Zoo Freestyle, Golden Goose Freestyle, Winter Storm Freestyle, and 99 Build Freestyle. Cole raps over classic instrumentals, such as the Stevie J-produced beat from Diddy's 1998 track Victory, which features The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes, and The Lox's Money, Power & Respect.

In Bronx Zoo Freestyle, Cole directly addresses the fallout from his 2024 apology to Lamar. After initially dissing Lamar on the track 7 Minute Drill from his mixtape Might Delete Later, Cole removed the song from streaming platforms and expressed regret during a performance at his Dreamville Festival in North Carolina. There, he told the crowd, "That's the lamest shit I ever did in my fucking life. I moved in a way that I spiritually feel bad on." The apology came shortly after...