Drake and Cole wrote the song with producers Boi-1da, Vinylz, Tay Keith, FnZ (Michael Mulé and Isaac De Boni), Oz, and Coleman, alongside Snorre Tidemand.
[2] "First Person Shooter" features a "subtle-yet-triumphant"[3] yet "high-octane" production that starts out with a "warped" vocal sample of Joe Washington's "Look Me in the Eyes"[4] while both artists exchange a few bars.
[6] The track sees Cole reflecting on his continuous success, arguing that him, Drake, and fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar are the "big three" in rap music whereas he himself feels like Muhammad Ali.
[7][8] In reference to his fame and commercial success, Drake later shouts out the Beatles and Michael Jackson, notably referencing how he was one song away from eventually tying the latter's record for most number-one US Billboard Hot 100 singles by a solo male artist.
[3] After hearing of J. Cole's "big three" lyrical claim, rapper Kendrick Lamar appeared on Future and Metro Boomin's single, "Like That", which was released in late-March 2024.