J. Cole has teamed up with Tems for a new collaboration — and it’s already curbing some of the criticism he’s faced in recent months.
The Nigerian singer released her eagerly anticipated debut album Born in the Wild on Friday (June 7), with Cole featuring on a song called “Free Fall.”
The tender track, an ode to falling hopelessly in love only to end up heartbroken, is produced by P2J and finds Cole handling guest verse duties.
“Toxic, who would’ve thought what’s comin’ was a plot twist/ Soon as you let mе in, you start huntin’ for the locksmith/ Now the key I oncе had to your heart does not fit/ I got three choices, batter your door or lock-pick/ Or walk away confused at your logic,” he raps.
His verse continues: “Back at my crib, cleanin’ your clothes and your shoes out the closet/ Thinking to myself, ‘We supposed to be in pools by the tropics/ Soakin’ up the views but you choose to blow it up’/ No, you ain’t used to goin’ Dutch/ So you refuse to see the truth ’bout who was out of pocket.”
Listen to “Free Fall” below.
Following the song’s release, J. Cole was praised on social media for his “fire” verse.
“Fire ngl this the type of shit i want from cole yall can stop acting like hes washed now,” one listener wrote.
Another said: “J. Cole is one of the most under appreciated artists of our generation, he has gone 2 of 2 with Afrobeats giants as he did on Burna Boy’s ‘Thanks’ and now on Tems ‘Free Fall.’”
A third user even claimed that the track will “sweep the Grammys” come next February.
“Free Fall” arrives after the Dreamville boss was widely ridiculed for his recent appearance on rising New York rapper Cash Cobain’s “Grippy.”
Featuring raunchy yet awkward lines about a lover he affectionally calls “Grippy,” Cole’s verse was met with a flood of negative reactions online.
“This message is for Jermaine Cole. Please take the ‘Grippy’ song back like you took ‘Seven Minute Drill’ back. It’s not too late,” one fan said in a viral TikTok video.
Another added: “Y’all know how J. Cole has been teasing ‘The Fall Off’ dropping? What if bro was talking about himself the whole time?”
The North Carolina native previously faced scrutiny for firing back at Kendrick Lamar’s “Like That” verse with “7 Minute Drill,” which many viewed as a weak rebuttal — only to delete the song and apologize to Kendrick shortly after.