by Jayden Lawrence
On January 14, J. Cole announced he’ll be dropping his presumed final studio album, The Fall-Off on February 6. It’s Cole’s first LP since 2021’s The Off-Season, and he’s been working on it since even before the release of The Off-Season. The album was initially teased by Cole on KOD’s “1985,” which he said was the LP’s intro in 2018. “Everybody Dies” and “False Prophets,” two emotional must-listen songs, were also supposed to be on this album.
Alongside his announcement, Cole released a video, exposing the hypocrisies behind societal norms. The narrator details the way that people feel entitled to criticize celebrities, ultimately waiting for the “fall-off” of an artist, rather than enjoying their peak, in the present moment. Within the same conversation, the narrator explains the clear and undeniable truth that there’s always going to be someone else in the future to take the top spot. Evolution is inevitable and it’s up to the “gatekeepers” of now to develop and mentor the next generation.
For audiences, it’s easier to judge and disrespect an artist for going through the natural cycle of progression, which means going through “the natural cycle of rising and falling.” However, Cole hasn’t been away from the game in the five years between The Off-Season and now. In 2023, Drake’s “First-Person Shooter” dropped at the end of the year, featuring Cole on the album For All The Dogs. This track emerged as a consequential track in hip-hop history.
“I’m naming the album ‘The Fall-Off’ which is pretty ironic considering there’s no fall-off for me.” – J. Cole
Paying homage to Nas and Mobb Deep, Cole already released “Disc 2, Track 2”. This track does three things in one fell swoop. First, it tells Cole’s life story in reverse, marking it as another one of his most introspective tracks and a real showcase of his versatility. Second, it opens up the story for any new fans who are interested in listening to the album without having to jump into KOD, 2014 Forest Hills Drive or Friday Night Lights, all albums that break down Cole’s morality, while tying the themes of the album clearly. But finally, and my favorite part, is that it all but confirms The Fall-Off will be a double album. The dangerous part behind this album is that J. Cole hinted in 2020 that The Fall-Off could be his last album. In this leak, he posted a whiteboard on social media with a timeline.
I expect this album to be Cole’s last, but with enough music to keep us satiated for a long time. Mostly, I’m looking forward to how Cole spins the themes of death, both physically, and for his own career, spiritual awareness, repelling greed and fame in this album, and still motivates the next generation. Cole right now is the “king of features,” but by the end of 2026, I expect that he’ll be at the top of the game.
