CyHi Drops Brutal J. Cole Diss
CyHi The Prynce released "B.R.A Lost Control," a brutal diss track targeting J. Cole that directly references Cole's exchanges with Kendrick Lamar. The track critiques Cole's artistry and position in hip-hop's current landscape. This adds to the ongoing wave of competitive lyricism following the Drake-Kendrick beef discussions that continue dominating hip-hop conversations.
The roots of CyHi's diss track stretch back nearly a decade to J. Cole's 2016 song "False Prophets." On that track, Cole took aim at Kanye West, a longtime friend and collaborator of CyHi's, criticizing his creative decline and the "yes men" surrounding him. CyHi, who was a writer for West, evidently took personal offense to the characterization and had been holding onto the grievance for years. This long-simmering resentment was reignited by J. Cole's public apology to Kendrick Lamar during the 2024 Dreamville Festival. Cole expressed regret for his diss track "7 Minute Drill," removing it from streaming services, a move that some in the hip-hop community, including CyHi, viewed as a sign of weakness in lyrical warfare. In "B.R.A Lost Control," CyHi directly references Cole's withdrawal from the Kendrick beef with lines like, "You was scared of our good brother in that Grand National, why? / Shoulda knew you and that lil' Honda was gonna have to collide." The "Grand National" is a nod to Kendrick Lamar, while the "lil' Honda" is a reference to J. Cole's more modest image. CyHi also calls out Cole by his alma mater, St. John's University, and explicitly states, "You forgot I still owe you for 'False Prophets'?" Interestingly, this isn't the first time the two rappers have been on the same track. Back in 2010, J. Cole was a featured artist alongside CyHi, Pusha T, and Big Sean on Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Fridays release, "Looking For Trouble." This early collaboration adds a layer of history to the present-day conflict, moving it beyond a simple opportunistic diss. The reaction to the diss has been mixed. Media personality Joe Budden questioned the timing and motive, asking, "Why are you firing on Cole?" The sentiment is echoed by some fans who see the track as a "clout chase," while others praise CyHi's lyricism and view it as a legitimate entry into the ongoing lyrical competition in hip-hop. This isn't the first time J. Cole's lyrics have been interpreted as shots at Kanye West. According to Charlamagne Tha God, Kanye himself felt that lines in Cole's 2014 song "No Role Modelz" about "hoes from reality shows" were a reference to his wife, Kim Kardashian. Kanye, however, reportedly laughed about the perceived slight. As of the release of "B.R.A Lost Control," J. Cole has not issued any public response to CyHi's diss.
