Joey Badass Questions JID’s Absence on J. Cole’s 'The Fall Off'

Joey Badass is stirring up conversation around J. Cole's The Fall Off, questioning why JID wasn't featured on the project.

Taking to X, Joey shared a series of posts breaking down his perspective on collaboration at the highest level of rap. In one tweet, he suggested that if top-tier artists consistently gave rising or adjacent talent the platform to challenge them on records, it could shift how fans perceive who truly sits at the top.

"You know what would happen?! LOL NIIGGAS IS EATING THEY FOOD! OFF TOP. RENT IS DUE, BILLS PAID EXPEDITIOUSLY. Public perception of who's the best would be drastically different if this were a regular occurrence," Joey wrote. "This is exactly why you didn't see JID on The Fall Off. He would've overstood the assignment."

Joey added that, in his view, JID's absence didn't quite make sense, even as he noted he still enjoyed the album overall. As the conversation gained traction, Joey further expanded on his stance, making it clear his critique wasn't just about Cole.

"This is not just about J Cole this is about lyrical rap as a subgenre period," he wrote. "There's a scarcity mindset… the top guys don't invite other hungry spitters onto their own tracks."

He also emphasized the distinction between guest appearances and being featured on a major artist's own project. "There's a difference between doing features for n***as and featuring n***as on your own work," he added, arguing that the latter carries a different level of visibility and competitive weight.

The comments quickly sparked debate, with some fans pushing back on Joey's take. One user argued that Cole and JID already have a strong history of collaborations, suggesting the critique might be overstated. Joey responded by doubling down, pointing out the difference between being featured on someone else's track versus being invited onto a major artist's album, framing it as a different kind of spotlight.

The discussion also brought in other voices from the rap world, as Daylyt chimed in, joking that a collaboration he recorded with Joey still hasn't been sent to him, to which Joey replied that he hadn't forgotten and intended to follow through.

JID himself has previously addressed the limited number of collaborations with Cole. During a past interview with The Breakfast Club, he explained that while being signed to Dreamville makes a Cole feature accessible, he's been intentional about carving out his own lane.

Rather than leaning too heavily on co-signs, JID suggested he wants to build his catalog independently, even if that means spacing out high-profile linkups and pointed out that some of hip-hop's biggest artists didn't rely on constant collaborations with their mentors.