Here Are the Lyrics to J. Cole's "Port Antonio"

Is the long-teased 'The Fall Off' imminent? While we wait, take a closer look at the lyrics to this surprise-dropped new song.

October 10, 2024

J. Cole gave fans five minutes of introspection, not to mention some 6 God-focused gratitude, in his surprise-dropped “Port Antonio” track.

The song arrived via Cole’s Instagram overnight, bringing with it a close read of the track’s lyrics for some long-awaited reflections on matters of Kendrick Lamar and Drake. In case you’re somehow not aware, a quick recap: Cole posited himself and Drake alongside Kendrick as rap’s “big three” in “First Person Shooter” last year, Kendrick then opted instead for “big me” on “Like That,” followed by a quickly rescinded diss continuation from Cole in the form of “7 Minute Drill.”

Cole ultimately filed that track in the “lamest shit I ever did in my fucking life” category, while Kendrick and Drake continued to go back and forth. In “Port Antonio,” reflects on the discourse set in motion by his Kendrick apology and beef exit. He also makes it clear where he stands with regards to Drake, rapping in the second verse, “I ain’t ashamed to say you did a lot for me, my n***a.”

Omen, DZL, and Cole are credited with production on the new song. While official lyrics haven’t been released as of this writing, what follows is the next best thing.

Ride to it, ride to it
Ride to it, ride to it
Ride to it, ride to it
Ride to it, ride to it
Ride to it, ride to it
Ride to it, ride to it
Ride to it, ride to it
Ride to it

Young Jermaine walked the straight and narrow
Minimum-wage jobs for dinero, but still my mind was on the zeros
I fiend for the perks that was seen flippin' birds, so
We was skipping church, but my eyes was on the sparrows
N***as flippin' pies, spendin' thousands on apparel
Shit, I wanna shine too, I want dimes too
Jealous n***as wanna know just how my rhymes blew
Mano a mano, I'm Bono, I'm U times 2
Now I'm bougie, I done outgrew the fountain blue
But never forgot the spot where I developed my plot
The dwellin', the top, the Ville, where all my skeletons locked
If I could do it all over, then I never would swap
I've seen good, I've seen bad, had my melanin mocked
I've seen lifelong friends turn to devilish opps
I was Mike in red leather, tryna tell him to stop
You better beat it 'fore you see the heavy-metal get popped
He was a mean-ass wing with a hell of a shot
But if no team draft King, he gon' bet on the block
He wanna ball 'til he fall or 'til the federals knock
And sit his ass on a bench for movin' careless with rock
You can't relate, 'less your father was not around
And your mother went out and found someone else and then brought them 'round
And they salaries then combined, when they married, it brought you out
Of that poverty, then you moved to a soft little part of town
So that when you back in the hood, you feel awkward about it now
And your confidence start to drown
But the rappin' gave you some positive thoughts, and you jot 'em down
You jot 'em down

Ride to it, ride to it
Ride to it, ride to it
Ride to it, ride to it
Ride to it, ride to it

Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Yeah

Benjamin Button, Cole flows reverse time
To find deliveries good as mine, you gotta search primes
I'm scaling heights higher than birds can perch
Tryin' to be something, hopin' that peace comes to my cursed mind
One thing's for sure, that I've matured from my first rhyme
I learned long ago, you can't please 'em all, and it hurts trying
In this game, where all you've got is your name
Like Durk, I'm smirkin' at n***as tryna besmirch mine
Absurd times, where the fake get toted as wise
I can see hate in both of your eyes but the third's blind
So you search lines
But you struggle, which explains the puzzled look on the dull face as the word finds
I hate what raps become but like Do Not Disturb signs
Can't knock it if I see it's 'bout the dough
They instigate the fuckery because it's profitable
But singin' "stop the violence" tunes when dudes in hospitals
I pulled the plug because I've seen where that was 'bout to go
They wanted blood, they wanted clicks to make they pockets grow
They see this fire in my pen and think I'm dodgin' smoke
I wouldn't have lost a battle, dawg, I woulda lost a bro
I woulda gained a foe, and all for what? Just to attain some mo'
Props from strangers that don't got a clue what I been aimin' for?
Since the age of 14, Jermaine is no king
If that means I gotta dig up dirt and pay the whole team
Of algorithm-bot n***as just to sway the whole thing
On social media, competin' for your favorable means
To be considered best of live and rest, the weight of both things
I understand the thirst of being first that made 'em both swing
Protecting legacies, so lines got crossed, perhaps regrettably
My friends went to war, I walked away with all they blood on me
Now some will discredit me, try wipe away my pedigree
But please, find a n***a out that's rappin' this incredibly
My dawg texted me, I'll share the words he said to me
"If you refuse to shoot the gun, don't mean the gun ain't deadly"
I guess in that metaphor, hypothetically, the gun is me
I text him back like, "Guess a gun ain't what I'm tryna be, my n***a"
They strip me of my spot, and now I'm finally free, my n***a
They say I'm pickin' sides, don't you lie on me, my n***a
Then start another war, Drake, you'll always be my n***a
I ain't ashamed to say you did a lot for me, my n***a
Fuck all the narratives
Tappin' back into your magic pen is what's imperative
Remindin' these folks why we do it, it's not for beefin'
It's for speakin' our thoughts, pushin' ourselves, reachin' the charts
Reaching your minds, deep in your heart, screamin' to find
Emotions to touch, somethin' inside to open you up
Help you cope with the rough times and shit
I'm sendin' love 'cause we ain't promised shit
My n***a

Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me
Y'all n***as ain't stoppin' me