The 50th anniversary of hip-hop discussions proved how competitive the genre has been throughout the decades. Each emcee is vying for their chance to snatch the attention of the listening audience for the coveted yet ever-elusive crown of the best rapper. The ability to be ranked at the top of any profession is an accolade most would be willing to fight for, including “Passport Bros” rapper J. Cole.
Dreamville’s head honcho has made a habit of calling his peers — hell, even newcomers — out for a light, lyrical sparring match. Fans fueled his inner spark by deeming him the conqueror in a few big-name collaborations. His first career No. 1 record, the Drake collaboration “First Person Shooter,” is one example. According to J. Cole, although Drake ultimately chose the “song over the competition,” he expects revenge from the recording artist soon.
During an appearance on “The Secret Recipe” collaborator Lil Yachty’s podcast A Safe Place, he spoke about the public’s (including Joe Budden) favorable response to his verse.
J Cole & Lil Yachty react to Joe Budden saying Drake got washed on First Person Shooter
“At that moment, [Drake] chose the song over the competition and what the public is going to say [about his performance],” Cole said. “Drake ain’t looking at it like, ‘I’m going to take Cole’s f*cking head off at some point.’ Don’t think he ain’t’ looking at it like, ‘Nah, we just gonna make the best song.’ No, he comes from that cloth. So… at some point in time, he going to want his lick back.”
Drake, under pressure, has created bangers in the past (i.e., “Back To Back”). Cole better keep his head on a swivel.
Watch the full episode of A Safe Place podcast above.
J Cole recently found himself on Drake’s new album For All The Dogs. They were on the track “First Person Shooter” together and it proved to be a very successful track. In fact, it reached number one on the Billboard charts. However, the song got some criticism from Joe Budden, who said Drake was too passive on the track. Lil Yachty disagreed and brought up the criticism to Cole on his podcast, A Safe Place. As Cole explains, the artists themselves can set narratives and not journalists. Although, Cole does believe Budden’s feud with Drake had something to do with it.
“The specific incident you’re talking about, that’s a whole different conversation,” Cole said. “But, in general, do I think the online media is a problem or do I think they’re a part of the problem? No, I don’t actually. I think music is the leader. The artists lead the conversation. [Journalists] can spin it a certain way, but ultimately we lead the conversation.” It was an interesting comment that led to more analysis. In Cole’s eyes, Drake was thinking more about the song than anything else.
“In that moment, [Drake] chose the song over the competition and what they gonna say,” Cole explained. “And that takes a level of egolessness that’s… you’re putting your ego to the side and like, ‘Yo, I wanna make the best song.’ Drake ain’t looking at it like, ‘I’ma take Cole’s f*cking’ head off at some point.’ Nah.” So there you have it, there is a reason why Cole may have gone harder than Drake on his song. That said, there is no doubt that the fans ended up winning with this collaboration.
Let us know what you thought of “First Person Shooter,” in the comments section below. Was Joe Budden right to say that Drake got washed? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always be sure to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists.
“If it would’ve went No. 2 it wouldn’t have mattered,” J. Cole said. “I wouldn’t have felt no way. If the other song would’ve went No. 1, it’s like, bruh, I’m cool.”
“If that other song would’ve went No. 1, n****, I’m still grateful I’m a part of it,” he added, according to Vibe. “I wasn’t at home like, ‘Come on y’all! Pick up the streams, man! We gotta beat this motherf*cker’ Yeat! Come on!’… What got ‘First Person Shooter’ to No. 1 was me and [Drake’s] fans still buy iTunes singles… the digital actual sales of the song. I don’t know who’s still buying them b*tches but, you know, appreciate y’all.”
However, he also felt like maybe he wished it was his own song, rather than just a feature on a track from Drake’s For All The Dogs album. “I’d almost feel better not having my first No. 1 being off a Drake alley-oop, you know what I mean?” J. Cole explained.
By Drake reaching No. 1 as well with his song, he now ties Michael Jackson’s record for the most hit songs at 13.
However, it may surprise some longtime listeners of the two blog rap icons that it’s only J. Cole’s first No. 1 on the Hot 100. Despite entering the public consciousness around the same time as Drake, J. Cole had yet to reach the pinnacle of the hot singles chart. The closest he’d ever come to date was No. 2, twice: once in 2021 with his The Off Season single “My Life” featuring Morray, and again earlier this year as a feature on Lil Durk’s “All My Life.” Prior to those peaks, his Revenge Of The Dreamers III single “Middle Child” topped out at No. 4.
Meanwhile, Cole has fared better on the hip-hop-centric charts. All of the above-mentioned songs reached No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with the exception of “Middle Child,” which peaked at No. 2.
Regardless of how long it took Cole to reach this high watermark, it’s an accomplishment that no one can take away — and that may make it easier to return, if prior chart histories of acts like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, and Doja Cat are anything to judge by. He should be getting the chance to do so soon; he’s been teasing his album The Fall-Off for some time, and many fans believe it’s due sometime next year.
Of all the songs on Drake’s new album, For All The Dogs, the one that appears to have had the biggest impact is “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole. And why not? It features the long-awaited reunion of the two titans of blog era rap, pairing them for only the sixth time in their parallel careers. It turned out to be a smart match; the single shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 despite not being promoted as a single or having a music video.
That state of affairs may be changing soon, though, as a video that recently surfaced on Twitter (never X, never) depicted what appears to be Drake shooting a music video on the roof of the Scotiabank Arena in his native Toronto for what fans believe will be the video for “First Person Shooter.” Their belief stems from the fact Drake is standing on a platform made up of square tiles and the one he’s standing on is lit up.
This would appear to be a reference to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” video, in which the King Of Pop dance-walked across similar light-up tiles as he sang. The connection is even stronger considering Drake references Michael Jackson’s Billboard hit making record in the lyrics from “First Person Shooter,” rapping, “N****s talkin’ ’bout when this gon’ be repeated / What the f*ck bro? I’m one away from Michael / N****, beat it, n****, beat it.”
Incidentally it’s “First Person Shooter” that actually tied Drake with Michael Jackson for most No. 1s in Billboard history — although his accomplishment is built on streaming rather than pure sales. Still, in the increasingly crowded marketplace for new music, it might be every bit as impressive as Drake thinks to keep people’s attention for over a decade of chart-topping hits, because while you can fake streams some of the time, it’s not exactly cost-effective to do it for as long as Drake’s been a hit-making champ.
Grammy-nominated producer Tay Keith, named the 2023 BMI “Producer of the Year,” continues to dominate the Hip Hop charts with his latest releases. Today, the track “First Person Shooter” by Drake featuring J. Cole soared to #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, marking Tay Keith’s third #1 hit.
Tay Keith’s impressive track record includes three chart-topping hits. “First Person Shooter” joins the ranks of his previous #1 hits, “Jimmy Cooks” by Drake featuring 21 Savage in 2022 and “Sicko Mode” by Travis Scott in 2018.
Keith’s influence in the music industry is undeniable, with a collection of chart-toppers under his belt. One standout is “Freaky” by Offset featuring Cardi B, featured on Offset’s recently released sophomore solo album, “SET IT OFF.” He’s also behind two tracks on Westside Gunn’s latest project, “And Then You Pray For Me,” including the lyrical masterpiece “Kostas” featuring Conway the Machine and Benny the Butcher, and “Steve and Jony,” which introduces rising star EST Gee to a global audience. His production prowess shines on Gucci Mane’s latest single, “Glizock & Wizop,” featuring the charismatic Key Glock.
“First Person Shooter,” clinching the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list, produced for five-time Grammy-winning artist Drake and Grammy award-winning artist J. Cole, cements Tay Keith’s status as a music industry luminary with unparalleled talent.
Every Monday, Billboard unveils the top 10 songs on the latest Hot 100 chart. The most recent rankings, for the chart dated October 21, are out now, so let’s run down who had this week’s biggest hits.
10. Drake — “Fear Of Heights”
Get ready for a lot of Drake, as he has pretty much every song in this week’s top 10 with the release of his new album, For All The Dogs. The album, by the way, just debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it his 13th chart-topper.
9. Taylor Swift — “Cruel Summer”
“Cruel Summer” is one of just three non-Drake songs in this week’s top 10, which makes it all the more impressive considering the track was originally released back in 2019.
After achieving a peak at No. 2 previously, SZA’s “Snooze” is down to No. 7 this week. This isn’t the last of SZA we’re gonna see on this rundown, though…
6. Drake — “Slime You Out” Feat. SZA
“Slime You Out” previously reached No. 1, and now it remains in the top 10, joined by a bevy of its For All The Dogs brethren.
5. Drake — “Calling For You” Feat. 21 Savage
Drake is bringing his pals along for the chart success ride, too: “Calling For You” is the 15th top-10 single for international traveler 21 Savage.
4. Doja Cat — “Paint The Town Red”
Hats off to Doja Cat, who managed to stake her claim at No. 4 this week despite the sea of fresh Drake tracks that surrounds “Paint The Town Red.”
3. Drake — “Virginia Beach”
“Virginia Beach” has clearly proven to be an early favorite from the album, although its lead-off position in the tracklist surely helped it get more spins, since it gets played every time somebody starts a full-album playthrough.
2. Drake — “IDGAF” Feat. Yeat
This is a major moment for Yeat, as “IDGAF” is the California rapper’s first top-10 single. His previous high was 2022’s “Talk,” a gold-certified single that peaked at No. 42.
1. Drake — “First Person Shooter” Feat. J. Cole
J. Cole has been one of hip-hop’s most respected artists for years, but now he’s finally done it: With some help from Drake, Cole officially has his first No. 1 single. “First Person Shooter” is Drake’s 13th No. 1, which ties him with Michael Jackson for the most No. 1 singles among male solo artists. Overall, he’s still behind Rihanna (14 No. 1 songs), Mariah Carey (19), and The Beatles (20).
This week’s #Hot100 top 10 (chart dated Oct. 21, 2023).
At this point in his career, there’s not much that Drake feels he has to prove. The father of one is impressing us with his album run since unleashing Certified Lover Boy in 2021. After that came Honestly, Nevermind and Her Loss in 2022. Heading out on tour to perform hits from all of those was an ambitious feat, but Drizzy delivered on his It’s All a Blur adventure with 21 Sav back in the summer, all while working on his latest LP, For All The Dogs.
That project arrived just in time for Drake’s hometown shows in Toronto, where he brought out guests like Sexyy Red and Lil Baby. Thanks to 21 Sav finally getting a green card, he was able to perform in the 6ix on the tour’s final night, which is also when J. Cole came out to join his friend for “First Person Shooter.” Some have suggested that the Dreamville head “cooked” Champagne Papi on his own track, but nevertheless, both men had a blast spitting their well-crafted verses.
We’ve been eagerly waiting to see which of Drake’s newest arrivals would land atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart. On Monday (October 16) it was confirmed to be “First Person Shooter,” which officially marks Cole’s first-ever No. 1 song in his career to date. Besides that exciting news, it also means that the Scorpion hitmaker is now tied with Michael Jackson for the most chart-topping tracks from a solo male vocalist. Both the living and the deceased have amassed 13, and after his recently announced hiatus, it’s entirely possible that we’ll see the multi-talent overtake the King of Pop.
Tying Michael Jackson’s Billboard record is certainly an impressive feat for Drake, but still, that doesn’t mean the response to For All The Dogs has been totally positive. More specifically, the 36-year-old’s Spanish vocals on “Gently” featuring Bad Bunny left at least one TikToker’s mother less than pleased. See her reaction to the song at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Whenever two rappers are featured on a song together, there’s a competitive spirit that seeps in: who had the better verse? Over the past week, there’s been one song on everyone’s minds that perfectly fits into that conversation. Moreover, J. Cole and Drake teamed up for the first time in ten years for “First Person Shooter,” one of the best cuts on Drizzy’s album For All The Dogs. Now, we have a pretty authoritative voice to weigh in on who bested the other lyrically on the tracks. Dreamville’s own J.I.D recently spoke to Never Is Forever and, in a TikTok clip, had a pretty interesting conclusion.
“Yeat,” the Atlanta native answered jokingly when asked who had the best verse on “First Person Shooter.” “I know,” J.I.D said with a laugh when the interviewer tried to correct him. It seems like he didn’t want to have to pick between the two, or just thought that (for meme-related reasons or being genuinely impressed) Yeat just outdid both of them. Then, the interviewer asked the “Half Doin Dope” MC to pick specifically between J. Cole and Drake, and the truth came straight from the heart. “I’ma go with J. Cole all day, it wasn’t even close. We love Drake though, but…”
With the run that J.I.D’s been on in the past few years (and all the great music to come very soon from him), it’s fair to say that he would wash either Cole or Drizzy these days. That aside, though, this got fans debating about “First Person Shooter” again, although most people agree with his take. However, let’s not downplay Drake’s performance, as he had some sharp bars and also had two beats to work with. The important thing at the end of the day is that a great record emerged from it, one that stands out within and beyond the project it sits in.
Meanwhile, what do you think of this take? Do you think that it’s a no-contest victory for North Carolina on “First Person Shooter” or did the 6 God prove why it landed on his album and not Cole’s? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, log back into HNHH for the latest news and updates on J.I.D, Drake, and J. Cole.
Drake has undergone a few transformations throughout his career but since 2018, it’s largely just been different hairstyles. Albums like Certified Lover Boy didn’t necessarily offer anything new from Drake, despite the amount of anticipation. What we didn’t expect from him, though, was that he’d be working like a racehorse in the subsequent years. He made a hard left turn on Honestly, Nevermind in a career defined by pop-adjacent hip-hop & R&B records. Meanwhile, Her Loss provided a new pocket that he mildly explored through snippets and efforts like Dark Lane Demo Tapes.
Eight months after the release of Her Loss, Drake released his very first poetry book titled Titles Ruin Everything, where he announced For All The Dogs. “They say they miss the old Drake, girl don’t tempt me. For all the dogs,” he declared. His poetry book seemingly continued the thematic statement he established on Certified Lover Boy, which he described as “a combination of toxic masculinity and acceptance of truth which is inevitably heartbreaking.” It’s a 180 from Drake’s early career when he often earned reverence among feminist audiences for trying to speak to their emotions rather than commodify their bodies. But, in the same year that Future leaned into his toxic ways on I NEVER LIKED YOU, Drake seemingly took note. For Future, it was embracing a character that the Internet made him out to be, but for Drake, it stems from emptiness.
Across For All The Dogs, Drake basks in the money, the fame, and the glory as he always does, but his ability to speak candidly about relationships has evidently dissipated. He’s not falling in or out of love but rather trying to fill a void in his life that money or respect can’t necessarily buy him. Relationships and former love that once brought him a sense of purpose have been reduced to Birkin bag handouts and sugar daddy tendencies, which, in all fairness, he and Future established on “I’M ON ONE.”
That said, For All The Dogs feels like a moment in Drake’s career where he’s at a crossroads. His own fame has compromised the things that he once strived for in his personal life, and he’s evidently grappling with this reality. And at some points, it almost sounds like desperation. “Drew A Picasso” brings Drake’s stream-of-conscious writing to a moody midnight-esque soundscape intended for deep thoughts and late-night drives as he reflects on a woman who doesn’t necessarily value the social status and wealth that Drake could provide. It all comes together when he croons, “I can’t picture you with him/ That’s just so embarrassin’, I want to die.” It’s a close callback to the old Drake, the underdog whose glow-up inspired a generation of men to try and stunt on the women who once wrote them off in high school.
The problem is that it feels as though Drake hasn’t moved on, which is especially true on songs like “Fear Of Heights.” Contrastingly, “Fear Of Heights” comes through with the rugged and aggressive tone that has made Drake’s rap records feel riveting as of late. However, the perceived shots at Rihanna and ASAP Rocky feel too petty for a man who admittedly “had badder b*tches than you.” To make matters worse, he seemingly continues to address Pusha T five years after the masses declared the former G.O.O.D Music president the winner of their lyrical bout.
The moments where Drake seems to be looking ahead largely rely on the excellent list of collaborators he brought on board. It’s no secret that SZA stands as the current reigning queen of R&B. While “Slime You Out” failed to achieve the cultural impact that you’d expect from a song with both artists, they make up for it on the Sexyy Red-assisted “Rich Baby Daddy.” It’s Drake’s latest take on the resurgence of regional club music, laced with a diaphanous vocal sample, fierce synths, and an infectious hook, courtesy of the “Pound Town” hitmaker. Even still, the song devolves into heartbreak with Drake bellyaching over missed connections.
Then, there are artists like Yeat, who’ve become paramount figures of the new generation of rap, thanks to his warbling vocals and high-octane production. Yeat’s influence on Drake isn’t new, especially considering BNYX’s general rapport with Drake. And while BNYX’s hand on “Search & Rescue” transformed the song into a hit, it’s clear that Drake’s verbose bars can’t hang with Yeat’s vibes. Still, “IDGAF” remains one of the most exciting records on the tracklist.
Still, even with refreshing voices like Teezo Touchdown, Lil Yachty, or Chief Keef on the tracklist, there aren’t many rappers who seem to inspire Drake’s pen. “8 AM In Charlotte” felt misleading in its release ahead of the album. When “Slime You Out” failed to maintain a Top 10 spot on the Hot 100, “8 AM” felt like Drake was about to give us bars on For All The Dogs. Unfortunately, much like the majority of Drake’s catalog since 2015, it feels like he isn’t genuinely interested in standing among the game’s top lyricists but rather reminding people that he can rap every once in a while.
Still, J. Cole evidently put a battery in Drake’s back on “First Person Shooter.” With an all-star roster of producers attached to the song – Vinylz, Boi-1da, Tay Keith, FnZ, Oz, and Coleman – Drake and J Cole emerge over triumphant production with boastful bars and the braggadocious rights that they once worked towards when collaborating on songs like “In The Morning” or “Jodeci Freestyle.” It’s a celebratory anthem that feels as monumental as the weight of the names they carry.
Drake’s biggest issue of his career is that he’s too versatile. Noah “40” Shebib once explained that his musical counterpart has a wide demographic he tries to cater to on each album. Perhaps that’s the biggest issue with Drake’s catalog these past few years. He’s been throwing paint at a wall through bloated tracklists, knowing that at least something will stick without trying to establish definitive bodies of work in his catalog.
Besides Honestly, Nevermind, Drake hasn’t committed to one sound that he could expound on further. Ultimately, that’s the biggest downfall of For All The Dogs. He doesn’t differentiate between welcoming the next generation of stars as an OG or trying to stand next to them as peers. There are moments that emphasize why the “Old Drake” resonates with his audience. Still, even so, he’s at an intersection in his career that fails to distinguish how For All The Dogs is any different than his previous bodies of work, nor does it look beyond the instant gratification of Billboard records and social media chatter. With his pending hiatus, For All The Dogs should close out a long-winded chapter in his career—one that turned him into a generational star who can be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jackson, if only for the accolades and chart success.
