J. Cole’s upcoming collaboration with the Tems has fans concerned after his lyrics on Cash Cobain’s “Grippy” were criticized.
News broke on Thursday (May 30) that the North Carolina rap star and the Nigerian songstress will collaborate on a song titled “Free Fall,” taken from the latter’s new album Born in the Wild ” (released June 7).
Fans are mixed with excitement and concern about international collaborations over Cole’s divisive guest appearance on “Grippy.”
One person wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “There is a good verse There is a good verse There is a good verse There is a good verse,” as if invoking a higher power.
Another asked cautiously: “He’s not going to mess this up. Right?”
A third user used some of Cole’s own lyrics to describe their feelings about the upcoming collaboration: “This shit can go one of two ways/This shit can go up, it can go down.”
There is a good verse There is a good verse There is a good verse There is a good verse https://t.co/fqf1bWQOuh
— June (@collegebaleout) May 30, 2024
He won’t mess this up. correct? https://t.co/mJOGo6y0Ycpic.twitter.com/rL5fG2E5di
— Scru🇳🇬 (@scrufacejean) May 30, 2024
https://t.co/C8OmHFf7y8pic.twitter.com/1eAEGfpmbY
— Joey (@gothamhiphop) May 30, 2024
Others were more positive, with one saying: “It’s funny that when J. Cole gave us a whole bunch of incredible features, so many people wrote him off after one bad one .It feels like a Pretty Little Fears/Sacrifices/Audio Hug sound and I can’t wait.
Another added: “Thank God for the gripping verses of redemption.”
J. Cole received a lot of negative feedback for Grippy, which featured a lot of sex bar content, something the Dreamville founder isn’t known for.
He raps on the track: “Grippy, I call her that ’cause it’s fun / She thinks it’s hip, she’s a hippie / She thinks of the lips, she’s gonna lick me / She’s gonna flick when she hits I/with a kiss emoji, she missed me/when she saw me she said she was going to take off my clothes.
One fan was very vocal about his dislike of Cole’s lyrics in the song, writing on social media: “J. Cole’s lyrics on the Cash Cobain song were terrible.”
Another added: “You all know how J. Cole teased The Fall Off drop? What if the brother keeps talking about himself?
One listener even posted a video on TikTok, writing: “This message is for Jermaine Cole. Please take back the song ‘Grippy’ just like you took back ‘The Seven Minute Exercise.’ Doesn’t count” Too late.
Cole also faced criticism in recent months for criticizing Kendrick Lamar on “7 Minute Drill,” only to apologize and remove the song from streaming services days later.
