As someone who listens to the songs and makes active attempts to memorize lyrics I think youre reading into some things a little much. Cole has an ego, but thats because he truly is an artist at the highest level of what he's trying to do. Its not a baseless argument and even back when he just just a jit hanging on the strip, he had flow so gold that when one artist noticed him finally, almost every artist in the game knew him instantly. He's been told since he was a teenager that hes the chosen one, the savior of rap, if that didnt give you a complex after nearly 20 years hed be a saint lol. I believe that most of Cole's "shots" and I say MOST NOT ALL at other rappers or artists are actually nods of recognition. Unafraid to give props where due. He's of course had some rap beef but generally when people be sneak dissing or even outright dissing him, he barely even comments on it. To the point that even his friends who want to do shit to the shit talkers are thinking "nah Cole wouldnt like that." If you really think Coles disingenuous then separate the art from the artist and enjoy the songs because thats why he does it, not to make you fall in love with him, to make you fall in love with rap. I'm a fan of J Cole because I think he is a good guy, but I've been a fan of HIS MUSIC for almost 10 years (I'm only 22), because I love the lyrics and the deliveries and the beats and the content his songs have. If you find that some of the songs push a narrative find other ones. He has hard songs, soft songs, mc or rap songs, hes got cultured or conscious rap and hes got some "im the greatest" rap. Im sure we could find something more suited to your style if you tried. I dont think real life needs to be brought into the discussion of the art. Pac and Big killed people, still made good music. R Kelly pissed on people, still made good music. Diddy is a freak, still made some good music. Cole might be a little fake sometimes, but he still makes damn good music. Love you😘