What If (with Morray)

What If is a conceptual masterpiece that tackles the themes of reconciliation, ego, and the tragic cost of conflict. By adopting the personas of two of hip-hop's greatest martyrs, The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, J. Cole explores an "alternate timeline" where communication triumphs over violence.

The central message is that pride and miscommunication ("the bullshit") often destroy profound bonds. The lyrics suggest that if these two figures had simply spoken honestly—stripping away the influence of the media, their entourages, and the streets—they could have saved not only their friendship but their lives. It serves as a broader allegory for conflict resolution in the rap game and the Black community, urging listeners to squash beefs before they become fatal. Morray's hook emphasizes the lingering pain of "what could have been," turning a specific hip-hop tragedy into a universal meditation on loss and forgiveness.

The song opens with a spoken word intro dedicated to anyone who has ever fallen out with a loved one, setting a tone of deep regret and missed opportunities. J. Cole muses on how fame complicates relationships, leading to the central question of the track: "What if the bullshit never got in the way?"

The first verse is delivered from the perspective of The Notorious B.I.G. addressing Tupac Shakur. In this reimagined letter, Biggie reacts to hearing Tupac's diss track "Hit 'Em Up." Instead of responding with anger, he chooses empathy, expressing confusion over when their love stopped. He recalls visiting Tupac at Bellevue Hospital after the 1994 shooting, praying by his bedside while he slept. Biggie admits he should have written sooner but got caught up in the celebrity lifestyle. He laments that his silence might have provoked Tupac, acknowledging that outside forces and "venomous" peers fueled the paranoia that tore them apart.

The chorus, delivered with Morray's signature soulful grit, acts as the emotional core, repeatedly asking "What if?" It paints a picture of a present day where the two are still friends, hanging out and looking back on their past disputes as trivial.

The second verse shifts to Tupac's perspective, responding to Biggie's letter. He describes his time in prison as a period of isolation where paranoia festered. He admits that feeling forgotten by his friends led him to embrace the "war" mentality when he was released. However, upon reading Biggie's words, he realizes the power of love and accountability. The verse concludes with a powerful moment of reconciliation, where Tupac apologizes for falling victim to ego and vengeance, choosing to be the bigger man to prevent further violence.

Released on February 6, 2026, as a standout track on J. Cole's final studio album, The Fall-Off, "What If" represents the culmination of a concept Cole had teased for years. Collaborating once again with fellow North Carolina artist Morray (following their 2021 hit "m y . l i f e"), Cole sought a vocalist who could convey raw, street-gospel emotion to match the weight of the subject matter.

Production comes from a team including Beat Butcha, TaeBeast, and T-Minus, who crafted a spacious, melancholic instrumental that allows the storytelling to breathe. In the album's accompanying documentary, Cole revealed that the song was inspired by his own reflections on the senseless violence in hip-hop and his desire to "rewrite history" as a healing exercise. He studied interviews and unreleased audio of both Biggie and Tupac to capture their distinct cadences and vocabularies for the verses.

J. Cole masterfully emulates the rhythmic signatures of the artists he portrays:

• Verse 1 (Biggie Persona): Features a laid-back, heavy flow with dense internal rhymes (e.g., "Maybe I should / Write you before shit go left / the streets is a bit upset"). The meter is smooth and conversational, typical of the East Coast boom-bap style.
• Verse 2 (Tupac Persona): Shifts to a more aggressive, staccato rhythm with emphasis on the downbeat. The rhymes are often multi-syllabic and end with hard consonants (e.g., "vicinity / sentenced me / memory / enemy"), mimicking Pac's passionate and urgent delivery.
• Hook: Morray employs a melodic, sing-song cadence that contrasts with the rap verses, providing a soulful release of tension.

Persona Adoption: The most defining technique is Cole's use of dramatic monologue. He does not just tell the story about them; he embodies them. Verse 1 utilizes Biggie's smoother, more conversational flow and internal rhyme schemes, while Verse 2 adopts Tupac's fiery, emphatic delivery and multi-syllabic "Makaveli" style.

Call-and-Response Narrative: The song is structured as a dialogue, with the second verse directly answering the points made in the first, creating a cohesive conversation across time and space.

Musical Arrangement: The production remains minimalist—soft synths and a steady, non-intrusive drum break—drawing attention entirely to the lyrics. Morray's vocals are layered with reverb to create a "ghostly" or spiritual atmosphere, reinforcing the theme of speaking to the dead.

Upon its release on The Fall-Off, "What If" immediately became a cultural touchstone, igniting discussions across social media and music journalism. It is viewed as a bold artistic statement, with critics comparing it to Eminem's "Stan" for its storytelling prowess. The song has sparked renewed conversations about the 1990s East/West Coast rivalry and the importance of conflict resolution in modern hip-hop (especially relevant given recent industry beefs). It solidifies J. Cole's legacy as a thoughtful mediator and a historian of the culture, paying the ultimate respect to his idols by giving them the peace they never found in life.

The song relies heavily on narrative symbolism and historical imagery:

• The Letter: Represents the lost art of honest communication. In an era of instant, often reactionary social media responses, the physical letter symbolizes thought, care, and a desire to bridge the gap.
• Bellevue Hospital: A specific historical reference to where Tupac was treated after the Quad Studios shooting. It symbolizes the moment the friendship fractured, and Cole uses it as the setting for a "phantom memory" of care that never was fully expressed in reality.
• The Cell: Represents not just physical incarceration but the mental prison of paranoia and ego that traps individuals in a cycle of retaliation.
• "Venomous Niggas": A metaphor for the toxic entourages and "yes men" who fuel conflict for their own gain, often acting as the catalyst for the downfall of greater men.

"What if?": The titular phrase is repeated as a mantra throughout the chorus. It acts as the emotional anchor, constantly pulling the listener back to the central theme of regret and alternate possibilities.

"The bullshit": Used to summarize the external noise, media narratives, and ego-driven conflicts that derail relationships. By reducing the deadly East/West coast war to "bullshit," the song highlights how trivial these conflicts seem in the face of death and lost friendship.

"My nigga": Repeated to emphasize the underlying brotherhood that existed before the feud, reinforcing that beneath the "opposition" label, there was a bond of love.