Carmelo Anthony Says J. Cole Is Top 10 All-Time

carmelo anthony
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – APRIL 05: Carmelo Anthony speaks with media during the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Press Conference before the Final Four game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on April 05, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Carmelo Anthony believes J. Cole has earned his place among the greatest rappers of all time. During a recent episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, the former NBA star said Cole should be considered a top 10 MC in Hip Hop history.

“We never seen anybody bookend their career and be very serious and intentional about it,” Anthony said. “So to that point, where we’re bookending careers, then yeah, J. Cole is definitely a top 10 rapper.” He added, “Also, he’s smart. He realized that we’ve never seen the bookends of somebody’s career.”

Anthony also praised Cole for choosing peace over conflict last year when he backed out of a brewing lyrical battle with Kendrick Lamar. With Cole hinting that his next album The Fall Off could be his last, Melo shared his thoughts on what might come next. “I think we’ll see him back in sports, documenting sports, content wise, telling stories through his eyes. I think we’re gonna see a lot of that.”

J. Cole’s talent has been recognized by other rap veterans as well. Big Daddy Kane previously said he favors Cole over Kendrick Lamar and Drake. “I’m actually more of a J. Cole fan, honestly,” Kane said in an interview with The Art of Dialogue. “I think he is probably, you know, the greatest lyricist of this era. He’s my personal favorite, you know, of all them cats.”


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