J. Cole Addresses Fight with Diddy on ‘The Off-Season’

J. Cole’s new album arrived Friday to much anticipation, but one song in particular has everyone talking.

The Fayetteville rapper opens up about his infamous fight with Sean “Diddy” Combs on “Let Go My Hand” off The-Off Season. Midway through the track, he brings up his rumored altercation with the Bad Boy mogul that happened back in 2013.

“But sometimes a ni**a pulled my card, tryna expose me for a fraud / And with my reputation at stake, I was scufflin’ just to save face / Couple wins, couple losses / Some broken up too quick to call it,” Cole raps.

“My last scrap was with Puff Daddy, who would’ve thought it? / I bought that ni**a album in seventh grade and played it so much / You would’ve thought my favorite rapper was Puff / Back then I ain’t know shit, now I know too much.”

According to XXL, there were reports that the two got into a fight at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party hosted by Puff in 2013. Rumor has it that Cole was dancing too close to Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie, while others say Cole intervened when Puff tried to throw a drink on Kendrick Lamar after hearing his controversial “King of New York” line on Big Sean’s “Control.” After the scuffle, Cole was allegedly kicked out of the party.

At the time, both Cole and Diddy denied the reports. “People will believe anything,” Cole tweeted, while Diddy added, “I usually don’t address rumors but I got too much respect for my bro @JColeNC. We are friends The rumors are not true. We had a great party.”

Dreamville President Ibrahim Hamad also shut down rumors of an altercation. “The Internet is a crazy place you ni**az reporting shit with no facts, Cole ain’t get thrown out no party and he damn sure aint get beat up,” he wrote.

Cole and Puff appear to be on good terms these days as Diddy provides the prayer-like outro on “Let Go My Hand.” “Lord, please guide our steps / Watch us, cover us so that every move we make is in alignment with your will,” he says.

After the song dropped, TDE President Punch also recalled the eight-year-old incident. “Ahhh the infamous and ever elusive Cole and Puff fade. What a night. Lol,” he tweeted.