Rapper J. Cole dropped a late-night track, “Snow on Tha Bluff,” on Tuesday that seems to take issue with some protesting against racism and also alludes to anti-racism efforts by fellow rapper Noname.
Cole released the introspective single on racism and social activism, and some have taken his surprise track as an attack on the efforts by Noname and others in the Black Lives Matter movement. For most of the song’s 3-minute, 56-second run, he refers to a “young lady” who he admits in the song is “smarter” than him and who speaks out against the ignorance of some in the black community and the social unrest due to police brutality.
"My IQ is average, there's a young lady out there, she way smarter than me
She mad at these (expletive), she mad at these capitalists, mad at these murder police
She mad at my (expletive), she mad at our ignorance, she wear her heart on her sleeve
She mad at the celebrities, lowkey I be thinkin' she talkin' 'bout me"
The 35-year-old hip-hop artist goes on to say the woman’s “tone” bothers him because coming from an educated place is a privilege that some in the black community are not allotted. Cole has been seen at some recent protests speaking with advocates.
"With parents that know 'bout the struggle for liberation and in turn they provide her with
A perspective and awareness of the system and unfairness that afflicts 'em
And the clearest understandin' of what we gotta do to get free
And the frustration that fills her words seems to come from the fact that most people don't see
Just 'cause you woke and I'm not, that (expletive) ain't no reason to talk like you better than me"
In May, Noname tweeted, “Poor black folks all over the country are putting their bodies on the line in protest for our collective safety and y’all favorite top selling rappers not even willing to put a tweet up. (expletive) whole discographies be about black plight and they no where to be found.”
Early Wednesday, J. Cole, whose real name is Jermaine Cole, confirmed that he was referring to Noname in the single, proclaiming that he stands “behind every word of the song.” He admits that he doesn’t read much, but he’s thankful for people including Noname and others who are informed about topics of social injustice.
Morning. I stand behind every word of the song that dropped last night.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) June 17, 2020
Noname, a Chicago-based rapper known for her track “Lost” with Chance the Rapper, has not officially commented on the controversy, but she posted a clip of late rapper Tupac speaking on his reading list on world leaders and others. The caption for the video is : “the most radical rapper we had.”
Some expressed disdain for Cole creating a song that pinpoints Noname and questions her tone and efforts.
J. Cole had love & hugs for Kodak & XXXTentacion, two alleged abusers, but has heat for Noname bc she won’t make him comfy w/her tone? The weakest links. 😭 Black women, self-preservation is the only option.
— Bené (@beneviera) June 17, 2020
Not talking about Black Women being murdered in the streets, but having time to make a whole thread about noname is just beige rage at it’s finest. If he can’t see how corny that looks then he is not “conscious” about the right stuff. https://t.co/4xIBCpIT86
— Alan Hill WAB (@A_Laurence_H) June 17, 2020
another layer of suck about this song about @noname beyond the the tone policing misogyny of it all
— SHOP.FWMJ.COM • 🌹 (@fwmj) June 17, 2020
It's him dribbling (not spitting) these bars over some Sweetback outtake instros tryna sound all introspective
god I hate y'all let him make it, he's never had the range
Cole had a few supporters, who gathered from the song that attempting to disparage others by purporting to be the most “woke” is not the best way to collectively battle racism.
Twitter timeine : we canceling j Cole
— John (@iam_johnw) June 17, 2020
Me : pic.twitter.com/1v8etUshNX
Jcole showed us that some men don’t have it all figured out & he is comfortable enough to say I don’t know & I need to do more & learn more. How can you be mad at that. That takes a lot to admit. He’s right we need to be gentle with one another
— Anaya Ivy (@AnayaIvyy) June 17, 2020
Others came to his defense about the efforts he has made for women and the black community.
I don’t like how y’all are acting about this J. Cole song at all? Jermaine is a performative activist? The Dreamville foundation j Cole? The man who set up his childhood home to offer help to single mothers jcole? The same Cole who is silently showing up for protests-
— j. (@joigabrielle) June 17, 2020
Listen to the entire song here.
