Ab-Soul Says J. Cole Is the 'Homie For Real' Amid Diss Speculation

Ab-Soul has clarified that he's friends with J. Cole despite speculation he dissed the rapper on "Squeeze 1st 2."

At around the 49-minute mark of his interview for Effective Immediately, as seen above, Ab-Soul's appearance on J. Cole's Might Delete Later track "Pi" was brought up. The project also featured the since-removed song "7 Minute Drill," a response to Kendrick Lamar's "Like That" verse in which he called out Drake and Cole for their song "First Person Shooter." Since Ab-Soul and K Dot are good friends and frequent collaborators, his appearance on Might Delete Later raised eyebrows from fans.

"I was a little upset with Cole... Not upset, but like, Cole was supposed to be on 'FOMF,'" Ab-Soul shared, referring to the track from his 2022 album Herbet. "Cole is the homie for real, that's what I want to make very clear to the whole world."

He also suggested that some rappers use the words "friends" and "homies" a little "loosely," but he considers Cole a good friend. "I just needed a 12 for 'FOMF.' He picked it, like, I played him the album, he picked it. ... I bugged him about it! ... It just didn't come to fruition."

He went on to explain that "Pi" was originally a song with just him and Daylyt and it got its title because it was 3 minutes and 14 seconds long. "I wake up one morning, [Daylyt] like, 'Bro.' [He] sent me the song and Cole on there going crazy. I'm like, 'Wait, what the?!' ... I'm like, '[Daylyt], bro, this one of the best rappers in the world, bro, you got to let me know before you [get Cole on it].'" He added that he told Daylyt he thought Cole "ate us up" on the record. "I called Cole immediately like, 'Nah, bro,'" he laughed.

Ultimately, Ab can see why Cole went for "Pi" over "FOMF," and said he respects the decision. He also asked Cole if they could "spar" on a record at some point. "His intent was to spar with lyricists that he respect," Ab said while explaining that he sent "Pi" to Kendrick Lamar who co-signed the track. He also explained that the song, even with Cole's verse on it, was finished long before the beef kicked off with "Like That."

Shortly after the release of "7 Minute Drill," Cole apologized to K Dot for the record and respectfully withdrew from the ongoing rap beef between him and Drake. Ab-Soul was asked if he had a conversation with Cole before he went out onstage at his Dreamville Festival to apologize, and he said they didn't talk about it.

"Personally, I respect Cole's stance on all of this, man, it's the road less traveled," he shared. "[He took] a very mature, progressive stance. ... I'ma stay out of it for the most part and just say that I respect his stance. He's taking a scenic route, which I really respect.

Fans speculated that Ab-Soul took shots at J. Cole on "Squeeze 1st 2," on which he rapped, "Metasota warned me they wanna war / But actually they forfeiting." It also arrived the same day Cole dropped "Port Antonio," a song that addresses his departure from the beef.

Watch the full interview up top.