Photo: Getty Images
J. Cole is finally ready to deliver what might be his "final" album.
On Wednesday, January 14, the seasoned rapper announced the release date for his long-awaited album, The Fall-Off. In a video he shared on social media, Cole does normal things like washing his car and eating at a restaurant while the narrator reflects the natural rise and fall of celebrities in show business. Toward the end, Cole debuts a snippet of a song from his upcoming seventh studio album and reveals that his next body of work will arrive at the top of next month.
The rumors behind J. Cole's "final" album have been swirling for years. In 2020, he shared a layout for "The Fall Off Era," which included his 2021 album The Off-Season, a potential mixtape called It's A Boy, and his forthcoming album The Fall Off. Although we never received It's A Boy, it's possible Cole may drop it right before we receive The Fall-Off in February.
The North Carolina MC also dropped a hint about his forthcoming album in 2024. On "Crocodile Tearz" from his Might Delete Later mixtape, Cole rapped, "There's not a rap n***a breathin' that can outlast/The Fall Off is like Hov droppin' Reasonable Doubt last." He also shared a vlog in which he signed his name on a poster that had The Fall-Off on it.
Cole has been alluding to his "final" album in a series of collaborations, including “Adonis Interlude (The Montage)” from the Creed III soundtrack and his guest verse on Summer Walker's Clear 2: Soft Life EP. Now, the countdown has officially begun.
Look out for The Fall-Off coming February 6.