J. Cole - The Fall-Off (Album)
Whatever your opinion is of J. Cole, don’t let it cloud your judgment going into this project. I’m choosing to be brutally honest in this review for several reasons, mainly because this album deserves honesty with no sugarcoating.
J. Cole had been teasing The Fall Off for quite some time. I’m sure this project would’ve seen the light of day much earlier, but the Kendrick vs. Drake fiasco changed the landscape. Cole briefly threw his hat into the ring, only to turn around and pick it back up; something many fans viewed as a negative mark on his legacy. Personally, I applauded him for it. It takes real maturity to recognize when a battle is worth engaging in and when it’s better to excuse yourself. At the end of the day, it was all love, and Cole moved with intention instead of ego.
Once the smoke cleared, the rollout officially began. First came two singles, then a mixtape hosted by DJ Clue, and eventually The Fall Off. The anticipation was real, and expectations were high.
Right off the bat, the tracklist caught my attention; 24 tracks. That told me Jermaine Cole had a lot to get off his chest, and he absolutely does. The intro sets the tone in a way only Cole knows how. Instead of immediately spilling his soul, he opens with James Taylor’s “Carolina in My Mind,” a thoughtful choice that feels deeply rooted in who he is. That calm is quickly disrupted by gunshots, which usher us into “Two Six,” signaling that this is no passive listen; Cole is locked in and ready to speak his truth.
Records throughout the album feel intentionally mixed, and that balance is what makes the project so compelling. You can tap into a track like “Safety,” where J. Cole opens up about a bond rooted in brotherhood; someone he trusts, someone he can walk through memory lane with. The updated perspective on the record shows that even through tough times, there’s always been a reserved space in his mind for that connection.
Then the album shifts gears with the Future–assisted “Run A Train,” which stands out as one of my favorite tracks not just on this project, but beyond it as well. Here, Cole leans into emotion again, this time unpacking his complicated relationship with his hometown. He touches on how much he’s poured into it, while wrestling with the feeling that the love hasn’t always been fully reciprocated. There’s pride, doubt, and vulnerability layered throughout the record.
As the chorus reinforces, you never truly know what’s going on with J. Cole, only what he allows you to see. That idea echoes throughout the album, revealing glimpses of his inner world without ever fully giving it away. That subtle restraint is part of what makes the project resonate so deeply.
From the very beginning, The Fall Off feels intentional. It’s reflective, layered, and confident without being loud. This isn’t J. Cole chasing moments or headlines; this is Cole standing firmly in his artistry, reminding listeners why his voice still matters in hip-hop today.
J. Cole embodies the truth about the struggles in fame, where you can throw so much at it, the sacrifices and the time, and still not knowing if it will have the impact you want it to or if it all goes away. The Fall-Off isn’t supposed to be a declining course; it could just be the effects of stepping down the ladder, knowing when it’s enough of a climb instead of chasing the heights, but instead enjoy the moments you made. Cole broke down his tracklist into two separate discs, the first one titled “Disc 29” & the second “Disc 39”. J. Cole throws a lot of unfamiliarity in his second disc, and I enjoyed that very much. At the same time, we did get records like “The Villest,” which samples Mobb Deep’s “The Realest” and features Erykah Badu, which sounds like a breath of fresh air with Cole. I was quite surprised to see the upbeat rhythm in his next song, “Old Dogs,” featuring Oetey Pablo, turn into a vicious takeover record. It’s that spontaneous effort that goes a long way into the listening experience.
J. Cole has successfully demonstrated the peace beyond wrath. At the same time, hate spewed towards his way he decided not to react to it, not to give the satisfactory that his iron was dented but instead use that as a tool to crave out his own fears and regrets in the music, he’s fallen off of being someone that is suppose to “follow” in the foot steps of his peers and instead walks his own path. The project expresses all that, from the promo run to him driving a Civic, selling his tape in the back seat of his trunk, which is the start of many legends’ careers. No one expects him to make these moves, and that’s what makes him different. From the very beginning, he could’ve taken a familiar blueprint and walked in it, but instead, he chose to form his own, and right now, we’re seeing that very plan come to life that many will review and duplicate. The Ville is, and always will be, perfectly situated alongside Cole and his journey.