Wale Opens Up About Beating Writer’s Block With Help From J. Cole

Writer’s block is a struggle many artists face—and Wale just revealed how a conversation with J. Cole helped him break through one of his worst creative funks.

Taking to social media, the D.C. native sparked a thread by asking fellow artists how they deal with writer’s block. “Over the years I’ve had different methods. Curious what y’all do,” he wrote. But it’s what he shared next that caught fans’ attention.

“I done talked to Cole bout the block a rack of times,” Wale continued. “One time he tried to teach me how to meditate… it worked a lil… we made ‘My Boy’ right after.”

That track—“My Boy (Freestyle)”—dropped in 2018 and reminded everyone of the lyrical chemistry the duo shares. But the history between Wale and Cole goes way deeper.

The two XXL Freshmen were once close collaborators, first linking up in 2009. But tensions flared in 2016 when Cole’s “False Prophets” appeared to critique Wale directly. In response, Wale fired back with “Groundhog Day,” confronting their dynamic and airing out his frustrations.

Still, their bond outlasted the drama. They reunited musically again in 2021 with “Poke It Out,” and publicly at J. Cole’s manager Ib Hamad’s 40th birthday party in 2024—showing that time and mutual respect can heal even complex relationships.

Through the ups, downs, and deep bars, Cole has clearly remained a solid presence in Wale’s life—and this latest story just adds another chapter to their legacy.