Apr 8
Rapper J. Cole Blasted for Transphobic Track on New Album
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Rapper J. Cole prompted backlash with a track on his new album, "Might Delete Later," that took aim at fellow recording artist Kendrick Lamar with anti-trans invective.
Consequence related in an April 5 post that Cole had "surprise-released" the album earler that same day. Titled "Might Delete Later," the album contains a song title "Pi," in which, Consequence detailed, Cole went after Lamar with this:
"They plead the fifth, I'm seeing hints of a trans fella / In cancel culture's vicinity, he's no killer, trust me / Beneath his chosen identity, there is still a pussy, period."
"Beyond using transness as an insult and sneaking in a bit of misogyny to boot," Consequence noted, "the implication that trans men are still woman is, by definition, transphobic."
The lyrics "troubled even some of his own fans, prompting many to call the rapper out for transphobia," Complex relayed.
But Cole wasn't the only one subjected to critiques, Complex noted, as "others pointed to Lamar's own complicated history with the trans community, citing his 2022 song 'Auntie Diaries' from his fifth album 'Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.'"
"In the controversial song," Complex said, "Lamar reflects on accepting his uncle's transition. 'My auntie is a man now,' Lamar repeats throughout the song, where he also uses the F-slur."
However, Lamar's defenders noted, the song was an account of how having a trans uncle allowed Lamar's attitudes to evolve.
"Might Delete Later"? Sooner might be better.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
