What If Lyrics
[Intro]
This for everybody out there that ever fell out with somebody you love
Fame is a motherf*cker
Just to look back and be like (Yeah)
"Damn, it didn't have to go like that"
What if?
What if?
What if?
What if the bullshit never got in the way?
You'd still be my n!gga to this day
Sayin' what if?
What if?
What if?
What if?
What if the bullshit never got in the way?
I'd still have my n!gga to this day
[Verse 1]
Uh, what's up, Pac?
I heard that record that you did that just dropped, it's bubblin'
Got me wonderin' when the love stopped
"Hit Em Up", I'm like maybe I should
Right you before shit go left
The streets is a bit upset
You claimin' that you f*cked my b!tch
But, check, instead of escalatin'
At a time when n!ggas say "Big, let's decimate 'em"
I'm tellin' him "Chill" 'cause although he violatin'
In my heart I could never hate him
I love you
I hope it ain't too late to tell you when you got shot
I came to visit you at Bellview, but you was sleepin', they let me peek in
I said a prayer by yo' bedside, bandages covered the bleedin'
I'm thinkin', "Dawg, I told you, watch the n!ggas you close to
I know dudes
And they won't hesitate to smoke you if shit go left"
While you was locked I shoulda wrote you
But life happens, promo, mad shows to do
Still no excuse, I didn't do what I was 'posed to
And maybe that's what provoked you
To use your vocals to speak my name with a negative tone
As you stared at the walls of that cell on your own
Wonder how long it'd be before they'd let you come home and get your money
You maybe started lookin' at me funny
Perhaps you might've felt that I betrayed you or played you
Or thought that I knew about that setup and coulda saved you
Or maybe that made you come out on some war shit
East Coast, West Coast, now media is tryna force it
Of course it's entertainment, but the world is full of ignoramus
That view the rich and famous as either heroes or villains with no feelings
Not knowin' most drama only leads to mo' killings
Well, f*ck that, n!gga, I'm hurt
I miss my dawg, I ain't gotta hide
If I hurt you, I apologize
[Chorus]
What if?
If I can turn back the hands of time
What if?
Turn back the hands of time
What if the bullshit never got in the way? (Ooh, yeah-ah)
You'd still be my n!gga to this day
I'm sayin, what if?
If I can turn back the hands of time
What if?
Turn back the hands of time
What if the bullshit never got in the way? (Ooh-ooh)
I'd still have my n!gga to this day
[Verse 2]
Uh, today, was goin' to Vegas until I opened yo' letter
I cried through all of these pages, been tryin' to get it together
I'm comin' out to NY, I gotta find you in person
To look you dead in yo' eyes, and let you know I've been hurtin'
Been movin' off pure adrenaline, never knowin' for certain who's on my side
And who's obliged for closin' my curtains
So in a mist with clinched fists, I picked up this sword
I know there's money in violence, I know there's profit in war
But, shit, I felt that you left me to hang
I gave you game
"Rap for the b!tches", I said, saw you switched up yo' lane
Your content resemblin' mine, it brought you fame
I didn't complain, I cheered you on with no disdain
And at the same time, my destiny brought me pain
From kickin' it with some venomous n!ggas, I know the same
Ones that you warned me 'bout, I ain't listen
The trigger squeezed, my paranoia noticed you in the vicinity
So when they sentenced me
Lawyers milked me for every penny, all I had inside that cell was my memory
And plus the fear that while I'm gone, they forgettin' me
How n!ggas shoutin' me out, but never visit me? (Hah, n!gga?)
And as the time crept, that mindset became a mission
You came to represent my opposition
So when I got out, I chose drama
Took the war out and went all out
And I care about the fallout
Suddenly now I got the mob out
Plus a whole side ready to ride
Now I gotta tell 'em stall out 'cause tears fillin' my eyes
Your letter helped me understand
The power in love, the choice to be the bigger man
Know shit got outta hand, I'll take the blame for it
For my mistakes, I couldn't take you gettin' slain for it
For fallin' victim to ego, vengeance, and dollar signs
I wanna say from the heart, I apologize
[Chorus]
What if?
If I can turn back the hands of time
What if?
Turn back the hands of time
What if?
What if the bullshit never got in the way? (Yeah-ah)
You'd still be my n!gga to this day
I'm sayin, what if?
If I can turn back the hands of time
What if?
Turn back the hands of time
What if the bullshit never got in the way? (Time)
We'd still have them n!ggas to this day
[Outro]
What if? What if? What if? (Now, yeah)
What if? What if? What if?
What if? What if? What if? (Ooh)
What if? What if? What if? (Gee, yeah)
What if? What if? What if? (Yeah, un)
What if? What if? What if? (Yeah, un)
What if? What if? What if? (Dun-dun-dun-dun)
What if? What if? What if? (Ah)
What if? What if? What if?
What if? What if? What if?
What if? What if? What if? (What if?)
What if? What if? What if? What if?
Oh yeah
Yeah
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What If Song Meaning [J. Cole]
"What If" emerges as one of the most conceptually ambitious tracks on J. Cole’s "The Fall-Off", a sprawling double-disc project that has captured widespread attention upon its February 2026 release. Positioned on the second half of the album, "What If" pairs introspective production with lyrical narrative that reaches beyond personal history into a broader hip-hop mythology. The song is notable not only for its collaboration with Morray but for the way it revisits one of rap’s most infamous conflicts through a reflective lens, imagining an alternate history where reconciliation trumps rivalry.
Song Meaning
From the outset, "What If" establishes itself as a reflection on memory, conflict, and the fragile human emotions that fuel both. Instead of a conventional verse/chorus structure, the song unfolds as a thought experiment — one that places legendary figures from hip-hop into a narrative of missed opportunity. By writing from the viewpoints of two of rap’s most iconic artists, the track shifts the listener’s perspective, transforming what could have been a simple tribute into a nuanced exploration of empathy and remorse.
As the first half of the song unfolds, the narrative voice steps into one of these legendary perspectives, recalling moments of tension with an undercurrent of loyalty rather than bitterness. This choice reframes historic conflict not as a battle to be won, but as a fracture caused by pride and external pressures — assumptions and miscommunication that ultimately drove the feud deeper. The production supports this emotional landscape, favoring spacious, reflective instrumentation that mirrors the weight of retrospection rather than spectacle.
In the song’s second movement, the switched vantage highlights vulnerability. The imagined counterpart weighs regret against ego, articulating how pride and misunderstanding can distort relationships, even with deep bonds. Here, Cole’s writing doesn’t merely play with personas; it channels a universal truth about conflict — that reconciliation often requires surrendering ego and embracing vulnerability. This conceptual choice encourages listeners to consider forgiveness as an act of strength, rather than weakness.
Morray’s presence amplifies the song’s emotional resonance, providing soulful refrains that bridge the verses and tie the narrative together. His melodic delivery infuses the track with an immediacy that elevates the introspective verses. By the time the song reaches its conclusion, what began as an alternate history becomes a meditation on what it means to look back on fractured relationships with honesty, longing, and compassion.
Emotional Core and Themes
At its heart, "What If" wrestles with regret and reconciliation. Rather than reenacting past animosity for shock value, the song posits a world where empathy softens conflict and where bridges are repaired before they burn. It leans into the emotional complexity of loss — not just of individuals, but of possibilities. By fictionalizing what might have been, the song reveals deeper truths about pride, misunderstanding, and the cost of unresolved relationships.
This thematic choice resonates not only as a tribute to hip-hop history, but as an extension of J. Cole’s own artistic journey. Throughout "The Fall-Off", Cole engages with themes of reflection, legacy, and personal evolution, and "What If" sits at that intersection. With the album’s broader context of looking back on life at different ages and stages, this track reinforces the idea that understanding and forgiveness are part of personal growth, especially within communities where ego and image often take precedence.
Connection with Listeners
For listeners, "What If" offers an entry point into deeper emotional terrain rarely explored at such scale in mainstream rap. Its narrative invites fans to consider their own conflicts and the role that timing, ego, and communication play in how relationships unfold. Beyond its conceptual framework, the song connects on a human level — encouraging empathy over pride, introspection over retaliation. This is why the track has sparked significant discussion; it doesn’t just retell history, it reframes the listener’s relationship with their own what ifs.
Conclusion
In "What If", J. Cole and Morray craft more than a song — they open a dialogue about reconciliation, legacy, and the emotional vulnerabilities that define both. Through its imaginative narratives and reflective production, the track stands as a testament to Cole’s storytelling ambition and his ability to explore universal themes within the cultural mythology of hip-hop. Its resonance lies not just in its conceptual boldness, but in its emotional truth — a song that compels listeners to reckon with missed chances and to imagine how empathy might rewrite the past.
____________________________
Song Details
Song Name: What If
Artists: J. Cole, Morray
Album: The Fall-Off (2026)
Lyricist: J. Cole, Morray, T-Minus, TaeBeast, Beat Butcha & WU10
Producers: T-Minus, TaeBeast, Beat Butcha & WU10
Genre: Rap
Language: English
Label: Dreamville, Cole World, Inc., Interscope Records
Released: February 6, 2026
[Disclaimer: Lyrics are for educational and entertainment purposes only. All rights belong to the original owners.]
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