Why Drake Didn’t Perform With J. Cole At Dreamville Festival This Year

There is a reason why Drake didn't perform with J. Cole at the Dreamville Festival this year, according to an associate of the Canadian rapper. Unlike last year, Drizzy was not on the bill, but allegedly, there were talks for him to come out with Cole during his closing set as a surprise guest. They were set to perform their No. 1 hit "First Person Shooter," but allegedly, Drake had some doubts about performing after Kendrick Lamar dissed them both on "Like That."

On the New Rory & Mal podcast, Mal claims that he spoke to Drake on Friday night (April 5) and that Drake was reluctant about performing.

"[Drake] says, 'I don’t know, should I? 'Cause it’s weird right now. Are we performing the record? Can we ever perform 'First Person Shooter'?'" Drake allegedly told Mal.

Regardless of Drake not joining Cole on stage at the, the North Carolina native still got what he needed off of his chest.

"I’m so proud of [Might Delete Later], except for one part," he said, referring to "7 Minute Warning." "It’s one part of that s--- that makes me feel like, man that’s the lamest s--- I did in my f-----’ life, right? And I know this is not what a lot of people want to hear,” he said to the crowd Sunday night (April 7).

"I was conflicted because: one, I know my heart, and I know how I feel about my peers. These two n----- that I just been blessed to even stand beside in this game, let alone chase they greatness. So I felt conflicted ’cause I’m like, bruh, I don’t even feel no way. But the world wanna see blood. I don’t know if y’all can feel that, but the world wanna see blood."

Cole went on to uplift Kendrick and his success throughout his rap career: "That s--- disrupts my f------ peace. So what I want to say right here tonight is in the midst of me doing that, trying to find a little angle and downplay this n----- f------ catalog and his greatness, I want to say right now tonight, how many people think Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest motherf------ to ever touch a f------ microphone? Dreamville, y’all love Kendrick Lamar, correct? As do I."

"I just want to come up here and publicly be like, bruh, that was the lamest, goofiest s---," he added. "I say all that to say it made me feel like ten years ago when I was moving incorrectly. And I pray that God will line me back up on my purpose and on my path. I pray that my n---- really didn’t feel no way and if he did, my n----, I got my chin out. Take your best shot. I’ma take that shit on the chin, boy. Do what you do.

He concluded by asking his fans for forgiveness: "All good. It’s love. And I pray that y’all forgive a n---- for the misstep and I can get back to my true path. Because I ain’t gonna lie to y’all, the past two days felt terrible. It let me know how good I’ve been sleeping for the past ten years."

In addition to the apology, Cole says he is also removing the song from streaming services. As of this writing, it has not been removed.

Take a look at the moment here.

J. Cole has mentioned The Fall Off, which is supposed to be his "last album," several times in his lyrics. Last year, Cole's manager Ibrahim Hamad hinted about The Fall Off. When Dreamville's official account asked what album would fans like to see the North Carolina rapper perform in its entirety, Hamad answered The Fall Off.

His reply garnered almost 10,000 likes and several hundred retweets.

The Fall Off was originally announced in 2018 on social media. Before The Fall Off is to be released, Cole has a number of projects that will eventually lead to it. He's dubbed these projects "The Fall Off Era." In that list of projects, he has already completed and released The Off-Season, which dropped in 2021.

Last year, Cole cleared his Instagram account, and fans believed that he would be dropping It's A Boy, the next album on his list from 2018. However, there have not been any updates on that album either.

In 2020, the North Carolina native spoke to SLAM Magazine and wrestled with the idea of retirement but says he'll never actually reveal when he will stop creating music.

"Oh, bro, I’m super comfortable with the potential of being done with this s---. But I’m never going to say, Oh, this is my last album," he told the publication. He added the reason behind that is because he doesn't know how he'd feel in years to come. But says he's "doing all this work for a reason."

In 2023, he had a phenomenal feature run and one included his guest verse on J-Hope's "On the Street," where he rapped about continuing to create music.

"I contemplate if I should wait to hand over the crown/And stick around for a bit longer, I got a strange type of hunger/The more I eat, the more it gets stronger."

Take a look at five times J. Cole has mentioned The Fall Off below:

One of J. Cole's first mentions of The Fall Off is from 2018 on "1985." While he doesn't mention the forthcoming album in the lyrics, he mentions it in the subtitle of the song. The full name of the song is "1985 (Intro To The Fall Off)" seemingly marking the beginning to the end. The song closes out Cole's 2018 album KOD.

While it was three years since Cole mentioned The Fall Off, there was no subtitling like he did in 2018. In the song, "my.life" Cole gives fans a direct response to the album. "After The Fall Off, I promise I'm comin' and sellin' out Wrigley's," Cole raps referring to his album and the Chicago Major League Baseball field. Although Cole mentions the album he doesn't give any clarity to fans on what or when to expect the project. "my.life" was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance in 2022.

In one of the first songs from Drake and J. Cole together in years, the North Carolina native takes the grand opportunity to mention his album. "I'm namin' the album The Fall Off, it's pretty ironic 'cause it ain't no fall off for me," Cole raps. While, he mentions the album as he flexes about his rap skills, fans are still without answers.

The KOD rapper earned his first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the track. He later commented on the song during his interview on Lil Yachty's A Safe Place Podcast. "I love Drake and I love that I’m a part of that moment with him with Michael Jackson. But it’s like, bruh, I’m grateful I’m a part of it, but if that other song ["IDGAF"] would’ve went number one, n----, I’m still grateful I’m a part of it." "IDGAF" featuring Yeat took the No. 2 spot on chart. Drake is tied with Michael Jackson for the most number of singles by a male solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100 with 13.

In "To Summer From Cole (audio hug)," Cole praises Summer Walker for her artistry, being a good mother, and holding R&B down. He also uses his verse to speak on The Fall Off. "They sit around waitin' for you to fall off/Like the album I'm makin,'" he raps comparing his album title to how fans hate on the R&B singer. "To Summer From Cole (audio hug)" is the first track on Clear 2: Soft Life. Walker earned her first solo Grammy nomination for Clear 2: Soft Life for Best R&B Album at the 2024 GRAMMYS.

Cole and his Dreamville signees soundtracked Creed III starring Michael B. Jordan and Johnathan Majors. On "Adonis Interlude (The Montage)" Cole raps, "Just cop The Fall Off and he'll explain." Unlike the other mentions of the album it seems that Cole gives a little more insight for the project with the following lines, "Is it the end of the chapter, happily ever after?/Bet this gon' be the year that fulfill his reign, mane." The last line ends the song and any other information lyrically about the project at this time.