Interesting that you say that because it's EXACTLY how I feel about Kendrick. Kendrick always act like he had the answer and telling people pseudo bullshyt, and on this Israelite shyt saying telling people they're not black no more and all kinds of mumbo jumbo to twist shyt to appear he on some Tesla level of rapper which he's not really saying much when you really stop and think about it.
The BIGGEST difference, for me at least, between J. Cole and Kendrick is that it's been DOCUMENTED that J. Cole is that kind of dude that scroll in by himself to any one's hood to come kick it as if he's no different from any other brother. And the main reason people gravitate to his music is because they CAN relate to what he's saying. I mean got-damn, he did a song about losing your virginity for the 1st time. It may song corny, but that is shyt that everybody gone through. Same with this album. You don't necessarily have to be a druggy, but everyone have an addiction to something or demons within their lives or past that you want to kill off. It's not that he's more intelligent, but more understand to real life experiences that we all have. Whereas, Kendrick, he doesn't or it's never documented as someone who just kicks it with anyone but his own boys he grew up with or the core Black Hippy clique of TDE. I always respect his talent and love his music, but he always comes off a bit of a snobbish, I'm more intelligent than everybody type dude. He maybe not used to be like that but that's how he comes off as now. The controversial shyt on songs like "The Blacker the Berry"...
So, I understand where you are coming from, I just see it on someone like Kendrick, or definitely Lupe and really don't want to discuss him because I lost any kind of fandom I had for him due to that aspect you just stated. I, honestly cannot see that with Cole. If anything, he's more passive aggressive when he address a lot of shyt, even in Friends, before he suggest people should meditate over medicate, he concedes it not the most popular suggestion to commit to. But if that's how you feel about Cole, that's cool. I see it more in others, IMO.