First Person Shooter (feat. J. Cole)

"First Person Shooter" is a powerful statement of dominance, ambition, and legacy in the competitive world of hip-hop. The core meaning revolves around Drake and J. Cole asserting their positions as two of the greatest rappers of their generation, often referred to as the "big three" alongside Kendrick Lamar. However, the song lyrically narrows this down to a two-person race, with Cole stating, "Me and Drizzy, this shit like the Super Bowl," effectively framing them as the final contenders for the ultimate crown. The title itself is a metaphor for their approach to the rap game; they see themselves as elite players in a high-stakes competition, eliminating rivals with lyrical precision, much like a player in a first-person shooter video game. The song is an exercise in braggadocio, with both artists trading bars that highlight their lyrical skill, commercial success, and cultural impact. Cole positions himself as a lyrical purist lamenting the decline of 'bars' in rap, while Drake focuses on his record-breaking chart performance, specifically mentioning his goal of surpassing Michael Jackson's milestones. Ultimately, the song is a celebration of their shared greatness and a direct address to their competitors and the ongoing debate about who is the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time).

The song unfolds as a competitive lyrical sparring session between two of hip-hop's titans, J. Cole and Drake. It's a declaration of their dominance and a confident assertion of their place at the pinnacle of the rap game. The narrative is built on braggadocio, with both artists delivering intricate verses packed with metaphors, wordplay, and cultural references to solidify their elite status.

J. Cole kicks things off, immediately establishing a combative tone. He uses the metaphor of a first-person shooter video game to describe his lyrical prowess, suggesting he eliminates competition effortlessly, turning their efforts into a "funeral." He dismisses any notion of being challenged, stating that if anyone talks about 'offing' him, it had better be in the context of a mundane office job, not in the rap arena. Cole directly addresses the 'Greatest of All Time' (G.O.A.T.) debate, not just including himself but declaring he is 'numero uno.' He frames the ultimate competition as a 'Super Bowl'-level event exclusively between himself and Drake, sidelining other contenders. He touches on the media's and fans' thirst for beef, expressing a casual disregard for it while admitting he enjoys the mystique. Cole makes it clear that if he were to diss someone, it would be direct and unmistakable. He also references his highly anticipated album, 'The Fall Off,' with irony, stating there's no decline in his performance. The verse culminates with the now-famous line, "Love when they argue the hardest MC / Is it K-Dot, is it Aubrey, or me? / We the big three like we started a league," before asserting his current feeling of being the singular best, like Muhammad Ali. He likens his relationship with Drake to the iconic Spider-Man pointing meme, a moment of mutual recognition between equals.

Drake's part of the verse continues the theme of supreme confidence and untouchable success. He boasts about his wealth and influence, claiming his 'youngest' associates are richer than other rappers. He criticizes others for selling 'false dreams' to their audiences. A significant portion of his verse is dedicated to his chart dominance and legacy. He famously raps about being "one away from Michael," referring to his proximity to Michael Jackson's record for the most number-one singles by a solo male artist on the Billboard Hot 100. He uses a Grammy as a 'doorstop,' a flex meant to show his detachment from industry accolades while simultaneously highlighting his collection of them. He dismisses those who question when his level of success will be repeated, cheekily telling them to 'beat it,' another nod to Michael Jackson. Drake's lyrics are a mixture of celebrating his unprecedented run and a defiant stance against critics and rivals, cementing his status as a commercial and cultural heavyweight.

"First Person Shooter" was one of the final tracks recorded for Drake's eighth studio album, For All The Dogs (2023). Drake confirmed in a 'Table for One' radio show episode just hours before the album's release that the collaboration with J. Cole had just been completed, referring to it as "fourth quarter magic." The song was recorded on October 5, 2023. It features a powerhouse production team, including Boi-1da, Vinylz, Tay Keith, FNZ, Oz, and Coleman. The creation process involved two distinct beats. The first part, produced in collaboration with Vinylz months before the album's release, was crafted in response to Drake's request for hard, chopped soul samples. This section samples Joe Washington's "Look Me in the Eyes." The second half of the song features a beat switch to a darker, faster tempo, a technique Drake has used frequently. This part samples Snorre Tidemand's orchestral piece "Redemption." The song's release was highly anticipated and quickly became a standout track, notable not only for the high-profile collaboration but also for its role in reigniting the competitive feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

"First Person Shooter" features a dynamic rhythmic structure characterized by its mid-song beat and tempo switch. The first section, featuring J. Cole's verse, is built on a sample in a 3/4 time signature (waltz time), which is less common in mainstream hip-hop. This choice places a greater focus on the lyrical delivery and flow, allowing Cole's intricate wordplay to take center stage. His flow is controlled yet complex, navigating the beat with precision. When the beat switches for Drake's verse, the song transitions to a more conventional and energetic 4/4 time signature with a faster tempo (around 164 BPM). This creates a high-octane, trap-influenced rhythm that drives the second half of the song. The rhyme schemes employed by both artists are intricate. J. Cole, in particular, is noted for his complex multi-syllabic and internal rhymes. For instance, in the lines "Love when they argue the hardest MC, is it K-Dot, is it Aubrey or me? / We the big three like we started a league," he links "Aubrey or me" with "started a league" through assonance. Analyses have pointed to sections where the rappers trade bars maintaining a consistent three-syllable rhyme pattern, demonstrating a high level of technical proficiency and lyrical chemistry. This interplay between lyrical rhythm and the shifting musical backdrop is key to the song's impactful and memorable structure.

"First Person Shooter" showcases a range of musical and literary techniques that enhance its competitive and triumphant tone. Musically, the song is notable for its prominent beat switch at the 2:21 mark. It transitions from a soulful, chopped sample of Joe Washington's "Look Me in the Eyes" in 3/4 time—a time signature that emphasizes lyricism—to a darker, faster, and more aggressive trap beat built around a sample of the orchestral track "Redemption." This two-part structure allows for a dynamic shift in energy, building intensity throughout the track. The production is layered and complex, credited to a team of hip-hop heavyweights including Boi-1da, Tay Keith, and Vinylz. Lyrically, the song is a masterclass in braggadocio and wordplay. Both artists employ intricate rhyme schemes, with one analysis noting a consistent three-syllable pattern used in variations throughout a section of the track. Their vocal delivery is confident and assertive, underscoring the lyrical content. The use of ad-libs and call-and-response, particularly in the intro and outro, adds to the song's energetic and anthemic quality. The track is also rich with intertextuality, weaving in numerous cultural references from the Spider-Man meme and Michael Jackson to the G.O.A.T. debate, which grounds their claims of greatness in a wider cultural context.

"First Person Shooter" made a significant cultural and commercial impact upon its release. The song debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, a monumental achievement for both artists. It marked J. Cole's first-ever number-one single and Drake's thirteenth, tying him with Michael Jackson for the most number-one hits among solo male artists. Drake himself references this proximity to Jackson's record in the lyrics, making the achievement a self-fulfilling prophecy. The song's success was immediate, garnering 42.2 million streams in its first week. Lyrically, the track became a major talking point in the hip-hop community, particularly J. Cole's line referencing the "big three" (himself, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar). This line is widely credited with provoking a response from Kendrick Lamar on the song "Like That," which in turn escalated into a major rap beef in 2024, making "First Person Shooter" a pivotal track in recent hip-hop history. The song's music video, directed by Gibson Hazard, was also a cultural event, filled with meme references (the Spider-Man pointing meme), celebrity cameos (Brian Baumgartner from 'The Office'), and homages (to Michael Jackson and a famous photo of Messi and Ronaldo playing chess), further cementing its place in the pop culture zeitgeist. The video was nominated for Video of the Year at the 2024 BET Awards.

• First-Person Shooter: The song's title is the central metaphor, comparing lyrical battles in hip-hop to a first-person shooter video game. Drake and J. Cole are the skilled players, effortlessly taking down their competition with precise bars.
• The Super Bowl: J. Cole likens the collaboration between him and Drake to the Super Bowl, symbolizing that they are the two final, elite teams competing for the championship, effectively sidelining any other contenders for the top spot in rap.
• Spider-Man Pointing Meme: Cole raps, "The Spider-Man meme is me lookin' at Drake." This is a direct reference to the popular meme where two identical Spider-Men point at each other. It symbolizes a moment of mutual recognition between two equals at the peak of their powers, acknowledging their similar status and impact. This is visually recreated in the music video.
• Michael Jackson References: Drake explicitly mentions being "one away from Michael" Jackson's record for number-one hits. He also says, "Niggas talkin' 'bout when this gon' be repeated / What the fuck, bro? I'm one away from Michael / Nigga, beat it," directly quoting Jackson's hit. This symbolizes his ambition to achieve legendary, pop-icon status. The music video further reinforces this with Drake wearing a studded white glove and performing on a "Billie Jean"-style light-up floor.
• Chess Match: The music video features Drake and Cole recreating the famous Louis Vuitton photo of soccer legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo playing chess. This symbolizes their rivalry as a strategic, intellectual battle between two masters of their craft.

The most significant recurring motif in "First Person Shooter" is the theme of the 'G.O.A.T.' (Greatest Of All Time) debate. This is explicitly referenced when J. Cole describes a dinner conversation: "When they start debatin' 'bout who the G.O.A.T. / I'm like, 'Go 'head, say it, then.'" This theme of being at the top is reinforced by Drake's lines about tying Michael Jackson's record. Another key recurring idea is the direct comparison and competition between the two artists, presented as a friendly but serious rivalry. This is encapsulated in Cole's line about the "Spider-Man meme," a motif visually represented in the music video to symbolize them as equals. The phrase "Big as the..." is repeated by Drake in the intro, leading into J. Cole's line "Big as the Super Bowl," establishing the scale of their collaboration and status from the outset. Drake repeats "Beat it" multiple times at the end of his verse, functioning as a hook-like element that is both a command to his rivals and a direct reference to Michael Jackson, reinforcing the legacy motif. The concept of being 'number one' is also a central, repeated idea, with Cole stating, "Not the three, not the two, I'm the U-N-O."