DJ Akademiks has been especially critical of J. Cole lately—and he didn’t hold back following the rapper’s underwhelming CBA debut.
Fans of both Cole and basketball were eager to see how he’d perform, but the outing didn’t live up to the hype. Despite limited minutes on the court, he struggled to make an impact.
In just eight minutes of play, Cole missed all five of his shot attempts, finishing with one rebound, one assist, and a personal foul. The performance quickly sparked reactions online, ranging from jokes to hopeful takes that he’ll bounce back in future games.
Still, Akademiks wasn’t cutting him any slack. The hip-hop commentator reacted to Cole’s performance—more specifically, his lowlights—during a recent livestream, making it clear he wasn’t impressed at all.
For eight straight minutes, DJ Akademiks goes all in on J. Cole, relentlessly clowning him during his stream. He throws out multiple jabs—calling him the “Bronny James of a Chinese league,” mocking his supporters as “losers” for defending him, and even joking that he’s the “water boy for ‘Rush Hour 5.’”
Akademiks also paints Cole as more of a sideline presence than an actual contributor, saying he’s just there for morale, handing out high fives. As the rant continues, he suggests Cole might simply be too wealthy and bored with music, implying that lack of motivation is showing in his effort on the court.
It turned into a full-on roast session, with DJ Akademiks reacting in real time to J. Cole’s moments on the court—often with a blank stare that said it all: boredom mixed with disbelief.
If you want to catch every jab, the full clip from joebuddenclips breaks it all down.
All in all, it’s been a rough stretch for the superstar rapper. His recent media run has drawn heavy scrutiny, especially over some awkward takes—particularly surrounding the Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud. Akademiks definitely had a lot to say about that too.
And it might not be over yet. With Cole expected to hit the court again soon for the Nanjing Monkey Kings, there could be even more criticism coming his way.
Part of the harsh reaction likely comes from the fact that Cole isn’t new to this—he’s got some professional experience under his belt. Back in 2021, he played for the Rwanda Patriots, and in 2022, he had a short run with the Scarborough Shooting Stars.
