J. Cole - 'The Fall Off'

What’s Good Y’all! Happy New Year! And with a new year comes fresh, new music! One of the big three is back like he never left! The release of The Fall Off, the title of J.Cole's next album, was announced on January 14th. As we await the release on 2.6.26, J. Cole was kind enough to bless his fans with a new song to give them an idea of what the new album may entail.

The Fall Off- Disc 2, Track 2, also released on January 14th, already has over 2 million views on YouTube…so before we critique the song, I’m critiquing the chosen title of the album.

It will be 19 years this year since J.Cole fully stepped on the scene with his mixtape release of The Come Up. Did you read what I wrote? That man has had 19 years in the game. He’s not only one of the most chart-topping Hip-Hop artists of all time, but he’s also had platinum albums, has been nominated and won multiple awards, including the Grammys, and has sold out shows and headlined a multitude of festivals, including creating his own. He created his own record label and found multiple talented artists, and when we think of some of the greatest hip-hop artists of our generation, he’s always mentioned. With a nod from both Jay-Z and Nas, how can we not see Cole going down in the history books as one of the best to ever do it?!

That’s why the title of this next project confuses me. Cole couldn’t fall off even if he wanted to. What many artists of his time who dropped music in the early/mid 2000’s do not realize is how dedicated a fanbase they have cultivated. He could’ve released his next album at 50, and people would still run to hear and or buy it.

It wasn't until the release of 2011's Cole World: The Sideline Story that I became a fan of J.Cole. I felt like I had been missing out on a movement no one clued me in on, but from there, I was hooked. And then came Born Sinner, it's still my favorite J.Cole album, and if you weren't a fan or watching, by 2013, you were definitely put on to one of the greatest in Hip-Hop. Releasing collective and solo projects, anytime J.Cole dropped anything, the community eagerly awaited, and with the announcement of a new album and release of a new single, this time is no different than the others.

Before the video for The Fall-Off...Disc. 2 Track 2 begins, J.Cole adds in a disclaimer, letting us know how long it has taken for this project to come into fruition and why. I respect an artist taking their time with their work. There's something about dropping music every year that, for the most part, seems very disingenuous.

What I love about this song is that it begins somewhat like a premonition and ends as a reflection as Cole works his way from the end of his life to the very beginning. The journey begins with powerful images of his funeral, then moves rapidly through the story of his life, with the lyrics. Within the song, he discusses the price and the life of fame, reflecting on what he accomplished and the work it took to get there. He also talks about being a father and a husband, the financial ups and downs life has brought him, and his upbringing. I used to feel like once you've made it, what else is left to discuss? You were hungry for the come up, and now that you...came up...what next? Living. Just living, as authentically as you can. I admire Cole for still trying to remain as down-to-earth as possible. With this project, I want to hear what he's been up to, what's been ailing him, and what he thinks about the current state of the world. This single has a slow, assuasive melody, something you would hear playing at a coffeehouse if I'm being honest. I know J. Cole isn't that "make it clap" type of rapper, but I do hope he has some songs similar to "Nobody's Perfect" and "Power Trip."

I would also like to note again that this single is entitled "Disc2, Track 2." Does that mean double album? Does the title "The Fall Off" also mean the last album from Cole? So many questions from such a silent force. I have only seen the single released on YouTube so far, so check out the track and video for yourself.

Let me know what ya'll think, and are you excited for the album???

Youtube Music