J. Cole released his highly anticipated album “The Fall-Off” on Feb. 6, catching the attention of the whole hip hop world. Put your textbooks away and dive in, because “The Fall-Off” needs to be studied.
The album has been teased for years, and it is meant to serve as J. Cole’s last one. So, how did this farewell letter from one of the most successful rappers ever fare against the expectations placed upon it?
A Tale of 2 Discz
Before its release, J. Cole dropped some insight on Instagram about his creative vision for the album. He explained why the album is separated into two discs: Disc 29, which is about a trip he takes back to his hometown at age 29, and Disc 39, which is about another trip to his hometown at age 39.
As mentioned previously, the album had also been teased for years. The final song on his 2018 album KOD was called “1985 – Intro to The Fall-Off,” and the album has been mentioned in other projects since then.
The expectations were through the roof as this was not just any album; this was the culmination of a near-decade’s worth of work — stricter judgment is in order.
Disc 29 – 10/10
The two discs feel like different albums, but that’s not a bad thing.
On Disc 29, J. Cole raps like he’s got a chip on his shoulder, reflecting on a time when he called out those who doubted him.
Many songs on this disc tell stories about how fame changed J. Cole’s experiences revisiting his hometown for the first time since leaving, and in typical J. Cole fashion, the storytelling is immaculate.
The highlight of this disc was J. Cole revisiting his different eras and showcasing different flows and beats. From the R&B beat on “Bunce Road Blues” to “WHO TF IZ U” that features not one, but two sick trap beats. “The Let Out” also stands out, bringing a guitar with a wild west vibe.
The best songs on this disc are “The Let Out,” “WHO TF IZ U” and “Poor Thang”.
Disc 39 – 10/10
While Disc 29 saw J. Cole experimenting with different styles, Disc 39 is all about storytelling, which J. Cole does to perfection.
In all his songs, he showcases his wisdom and shows that he has reached a state of peace, with many songs reflecting on his journey as a rapper.
For this disc, go grab your English major friend to dissect the lyrics, because this disc is poetry.
From rapping about his life in reverse on “The Fall-Off is Inevitable,” to rapping about a girl who is actually a metaphor for his relationship with hip-hop on “I Love Her Again,” to rapping from the perspective of both Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls in an alternate world where their feud did not escalate on “What If,” the imaginative mind and creativity of lyrics is truly highlighted on this disc.
Disc 39 feels like the perfect way to wrap up a career for J. Cole, as he reflects a lot on his journey. He does this in such a passionate way that it was hard not to tear up during some of the songs.
For Disc 39, the best songs are “I Love Her Again,” “Quik Stop” and “Only You”.
Instant Classic
With high expectations and a struggle to get better than his magnum opus, “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” “The Fall Off” is his first album to finally be able to compete for his best.
“The Fall-Off” is a perfect album even for casual rap fans. When every song on the project is someone’s favorite and no one can decide on a collective best song, that’s how you know an artist has made something special.
This album gets better with every listen. There might be some uncomfortable conversations to be had in the future for J. Cole fans on whether this album is better than “2014 Forest Hills Drive.” For now, though, enjoy this album. I can’t think of a better farewell for one of the greatest rappers of all time.
The Fall Off album cover. Picture by Spotify.