Drake Addresses J. Cole’s ‘Betrayal’ on ‘Make Them Pay’

The highly anticipated ‘ICEMAN’ album has finally dropped, and it’s already stirring up major conversations. One of the most talked-about tracks is ‘Make Them Pay,’ where Drake doesn’t hold back his feelings about J. Cole’s role during his recent beef with Kendrick Lamar.

The ‘Betrayal’ During the Kendrick Lamar Beef

Remember the intense rap battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar back in 2024? While J. Cole initially dropped a diss track, ‘7 Minute Drill,’ he ultimately retreated, leaving Drake to face Lamar seemingly alone. For the past two years, Drake has reportedly kept his frustrations about Cole’s perceived lack of support bottled up. Now, he’s finally letting it all out.

On ‘Make Them Pay,’ Drake directly addresses what he views as Cole’s ‘betrayal.’ He raps, “I stood 10 Ts and accepted the mission, ’cause I’d much rather death than submission. How can you press the ignition and let some memories of the past affect your decision?” The lyrics clearly convey a sense of disappointment and confusion over Cole’s actions.

Unforgivable Actions and the ‘Big Three’ Mistake

Drake doesn’t mince words about his inability to forgive Cole. “I love you ’cause of the history, but if we being real, I could never forgive ya. And you never called me back, but destiny’s written,” he reveals on the track. The sentiment suggests a deep rift that Drake feels cannot be mended.

Furthermore, Drake dismisses the idea of the ‘Big Three’ (referring to himself, Cole, and Lamar) as a flawed concept from the start. “F*ck a big three anyway, there was too many chefs in the kitchen, it was a mess to begin with,” he states, implying that the collaboration was doomed from the outset.

A Polarizing Release

‘Make Them Pay’ is proving to be one of the most revealing tracks on ‘ICEMAN.’ Drake also takes shots at DJ Khaled and continues to address Kendrick Lamar on the album. While some listeners might see this as Drake fighting back, others might view it as a bid to regain public favor.

With ‘ICEMAN’ being a polarizing release, especially alongside the tepid reception of ‘HABIBTI’ and ‘MAID OF HONOUR,’ Drake’s lyrical jabs at J. Cole are undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire and keeping fans engaged.