J. Cole Dodges Beef, Chooses Cheeks On Cash Cobain's 'Grippy'

It's almost over a decade since J. Cole rapped “Dick so big, it's like a foot is in your mouth” on Jeremih's “Planez.” Now, on Cash Cobain's “Grippy,” he's back with another cocky feature for a new generation of fans (and, inevitably, haters).

It's a playful release for Cole, who found himself, momentarily, in the middle of spring's tense rap war between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. A spokesperson for Cash Cobain says Rolling rock that Cole recorded his verse toward the end of April, making it his first release of recorded material post “7 Minute Drill,” the deleted and apologized track where he took shots at Kendrick Lamar for his “Like That” diss. (He has a verse on “Red Leather” — a Metro Boomin and Future song on the follow-up album on which “Like That” appeared just two weeks later — but journalist Rob Markman confirmed that Cole recorded it before the Kendrick track dropped.)

Luckily, it's practically summer now, and Cash Cobain is building a solid reputation for keeping things light and sexy with R&B samples and “things that shouldn't be said, really” as a fan of the sexy New York movement. “Grippy” is a remix of his fan favorite, “Dunk Contest,” which was released in January. In “Dunk Contest,” Cash coolly runs down a list of girls he'd like to have sex with by name and states how he'd like to do it. With a new J. Cole verse pinned on top of it, the remix is ​​retitled for the older MC's opener where he raps, presumably about some young woman's private parts, “Grippy: I call her that because she's stressed.”

With its lush and laid-back soundscape, mousy protagonists, and clear theme, “Grippy” immediately calls to mind “Planez,” which boasts one of the most polarizing features in J. Cole's discography. People either find his sexual raps attractive or incredibly creepy. There is one video of Cole performing it on X from 2020 with 24,000 retweets and the caption “Planez by Jeremih ft. J Cole will always slap.” There is also a Houston Press article about this titled “Because this song sucks.” But, as with “Planez,” Cole makes “Grippy” less sexy, but still more fun. His verse is good old fashioned fast-rap where he impressively flips the same ending syllable a million different ways. And while we're missing the begging-for-love-R&B of yesteryear, Cole delivers top tricks: “I'm gonna send all your kids to Disney,” he says. “I'll pay a pint extra, make sure they meet Mickey.”

There are a few reasons why this is a song you need to know. First, because it symbolizes J. Cole not hiding from the shame of avoiding a rap beef with an incredibly rare and thorough apology, nor basking in the glory that this was actually a good decision (as everyone decided in hindsight). He has moved on (cheeks) and hopefully everyone who consents will too. Second, it's because “Grippy” symbolizes Cash Cobain's encroaching reign as stars like Ice Spice, Cardi B and now J. Cole take their place on it. Just yesterday, Cash teamed up with Don Toliver and the legendary Charlie Wilson for Toliver's song “Attitude,” which was made straight into Cash's image. As a skilled producer and outrageous rapper, Cash creates a sound and dominates it.