J. Cole has done it again, but it may be the last time. His new album, “The Fall-Off,” was released earlier this February after being in the works for approximately 10 years. Featuring 24 tracks and split into two discs: Disc 29 and Disc 39, it takes the spot as Cole’s biggest project.
The album was first introduced in Cole’s 2018 record, “KOD,” where he titled the outro track “1985 – Intro to ‘The Fall Off.’” While this wasn’t exactly a statement saying what this entailed, many thought it was a hint at another project. Although for the past eight years, there was no sign of “The Fall-Off.” In fact, he was frequently releasing other music and projects, including those with “Dreamville” and his own, such as albums like “The Off-Season” and “Might Delete Later.”
Getting into it
Cole, raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, really ties his roots here, telling the importance of his hometown and how it’s shaped his music and career. In his first track, “29 Intro,” Cole features a sample from James Taylor’s “Carolina in My Mind.” Beginning with the sweet sound of Taylor’s acoustics, the song ends with the sound of gunshots and panic, where the record takes a compelling and unexpected turn.
The second track, “Two Six,” sounds more like a modern-day Cole, with the use of more bass and whispered ad-libs. But going into the next one, “SAFETY,” there’s a sudden hit of deja vu, a Cole we’ve longed missed. Cole seems to organize the album this way, jumping from a newer-sounding hip-hop to more old-school.
Into the meat of side one or “Disc 29,” Cole features artists Future, PJ and Tems. Future appears on tracks “Run A Train” and “Bunce Road Blues,” while PJ appears on “Legacy,” and Tems also appears on “Bunce Road Blues.” The use of collaborators focusing more on melody and singing while Cole focuses on rapping is a signature move. Songs like “Power Trip” featuring Miguel, and “Can’t Get Enough” featuring Trey Songz, plus many more, use this same style.
Side one is closed out with a bonus track titled “Lonely at the Top,” which Cole explains the emotional story of chasing his favorite artists to the highest level and then finding no one alongside him, causing a state of grief and isolation. This is the staple of the album, telling us what “The Fall-Off” is. In the chorus, he sings: “I never understood the phrase ‘It’s lonely at the top’/Until I scaled that mountain all the way up ‘til it stopped/And if you’re ever blessed enough to make it to this spot/You’ll see the ones you looked up to, unfortunately, had to drop.”
Disc 39
Cole titles the second disc as “Disc 39,” beginning with the track “39 Intro.” He begins softly singing alongside an acoustic guitar, and at about two minutes, the beat comes in. Soon after, the smooth and quick rhymes enter with the beginning of side two.
The next track, “The Fall-Off is Inevitable,” is a reminder that Cole’s pen hasn’t dulled and why he’s still one of the best rappers in the game. Following is “The Villest,” featuring the iconic Erykah Badu. The catchy chorus is what makes this song, as they harmonize: “Me and you/Your momma and your cousin too/Rolling through the ville on Vogues/Coming up, slamming Cadillac doors.”
Badu isn’t the only feature on this side; others include Petey Pablo, Burna Boy and Morray. Similar to side one, the featured artists play more into the chorus and singing aspect, doing an excellent job of backing up Cole’s outstanding rapping and vocals.
Nearing the end, Cole’s talent is really portrayed, showing this deep and emotional side of him. The ending track, “Ocean Way,” feels like a temporary goodbye, as he sings gracefully along the strums of an acoustic guitar: “Love has been called a losin’ game. But the more that I love, the more I gain.”
Is this the end?
The Fall-Off isn’t special because of the features, the productions, or even the talent — it stands out because of the reflection. It’s Cole taking a victory lap. Instead of being arrogant about where he stands, he shows us his gratitude for his journey.
The double album shows a clear theme — the grind and time he took to get where he is. He’s aware of why every artist faces decline and he embraces it, leaving us with what could be his last chapter — the end of his story.
If Cole continues to release music, no one should be worried because it’s obvious he’s still got it. “The Fall-Off” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200, making it his seventh consecutive album to do so.
But if this is the end of the story, what an honor it’s been. Even in his decline, it’s still a Cole World after all.