J. Cole Regrets Kendrick Lamar Response Track, Will Remove From Album

J. Cole walked back his recently released response to Kendrick Lamar, saying he regrets adding "7 Minute Drill" to his Might Delete Later EP.

Live on stage at his Dreamville Festival headlining set in Raleigh, NC, Cole said he rushed the track out, despite not feeling like he should have. "The past two days have felt terrible," Cole said before he said he would be removing the track from the EP.

"In my spirit of trying to get this music out, I ain't gonna lie to y'all, I moved in a way that I spiritually feel bad on. I tried to jab back and I tried to keep it friendly. But at the end of the day, when I listen to it... that s--- don't sit right."

Cole said he was under pressure from thousands of texts and calls asking him to respond to Lamar's recent diss track "Like That" on the Metro Boomin and Future collaboration project. Lamar said there wasn't a "Big Three" in the rap game, "It's just big me."

That comment riled up the rap world, as Cole, Lamar and Drake had done projects together and have been some of the biggest stars in the industry.

Cole said the response from everyone around him was that he needed to clap back. "It's war time. N---as wanna see blood," Cole said.

But from the Dreamville stage, Cole said he was conflicted about releasing the track at all, but "the world wanna see blood."

"I was conflicted because, one I know my heart, I know how I feel about my peers (Drake and Lamar)," he said. "I'm blessed to even stand beside in this game, let alone chase their greatness."

Cole said the decision was a mistake and he didn't want to downplay Lamar's greatness. He asked the crowd at Dreamville if they thought Lamar was one of the greatest "to ever touch a microphone." The crowd went wild.

"Dreamville, ya'll love Kendrick Lamar, correct? As do I."

Cole said the track was the "lamest, goofiest" thing that made him feel like the times he was moving incorrectly. "I pray that God will line me back up on my purpose and on my path."

He closed saying he's willing to take the verbal punches he deserves from Lamar if he feels like he needs to give them, asking his fans to forgive him as well.

The headlines from J. Cole and his epic Dreamville Festival set will undoubtedly be centered around his Kendrick Lamar comments, but it was an epic performance even before that moment.

With 26 songs, and a host of guests on stage, Cole said he wanted tonight to be a celebration of the music and collaborators he's had throughout his career. And he did that over and over.

The crowd immediately went wild when the stage lit up and Cole was silhouetted sitting on a car in front of a stage designed to look like elements of his home town of Fayetteville, including the signature Market House towering over him.

"I wanted tonight to be like a celebration.

Jeremih joined Cole on stage as his first special guest, performing "Planez" with him, from their 2015 collaboration. Cole asked him to stay on stage to perform another song, where he let Jeremih perform his hit "Oui."

For his next guest, Cole said "I've never done this on my own stage," before literally handing over his microphone to 6LACK to do "Pretty Little Fears" together. He then asked 6LACK to stay on stage and he did "Nonchalant" and "PRBLMS" on his own.

The parade of guest stars continued with Benny the Butcher, who came out to do "Johnny P's Caddy" with Cole, before doing another track of his own.

Next up on the Cole inspiration tour was Lil Yachty, who did "The Secret Recipe" with him, and then did "Strike (Holster)" on his own.

A tribute to artists Cole loves wouldn't be complete without his Dreamville Label squad. "Under the Sun" saw Cole lead in to Lute. Followed by "Down Bad," with Bas, EarthGang, but no J.I.D.

Central Cee was the next surprise on stage, joining the Dreamville Label crew, so he could do "H.Y.B." from Cole's new project that just dropped Friday. Cole said he didn't even know he was there, but had to do the song since he was. He then dropped a couple verses off of his own music.

Next up, Cole said he didn't have the guests there, but since he was on the songs, he needed to do at least his verse from them. He then did part of "The London" from Young Thug, and "a lot" from 21 Savage.

Back to the guest stars, Lil Durk came to the stage to do Grammy-winning "All My Life."

After Lil Durk left the stage, Cole got serious and talked back the response track he issued to Kendrick Lamar on Friday. Then he closed out with "Love Yourz," and "No Role Modelz."

Jeremih had his own set at Dreamville on Day 1 this year, but came back to join Cole for their 2015 collaboration.

Cole sat back on his car on stage and let Jeremih do "Oui" by himself.