The Carolina rapper finally delivered his long-awaited seventh album, and we picked some of our favorite bars. Check them out.
J. Cole performs during the 6LACK – Since I Have A Lover Tour at the YouTube Theatre in Inglewood, CA on October 10, 2023.
Christopher Polk/Billboard
The Fall-Off is here.
J. Cole has been working towards this album since the release of The Come Up in 2007, and he’s positioned it as a swan song of sorts, or at least the closing of this current chapter of his already impressive career. There’s been much intrigue and mythology surrounding this project that some of his fans assumed that when he backed out of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle it might be part of the rollout. Like no way Cole is going to pop off and apologize; this must be because he’s making himself “fall off.”
That, of course, wasn’t the case at all as he has since tried to explain his decision on songs like “Port Antonio.” There are instances of that on The Fall-Off, but the beef that ended the Big 3 era isn’t at the center of this nearly two-hour double disc affair. Instead, it’s about the Carolina rapper’s experience of climbing out of his hometown of Fayetteville to the top of rap’s mountain as he tries to juggle being a superstar artist while staying grounded as a husband, father, and friend.
At this particular point in time, he finds himself having to prove himself all over again and from the reaction online, some might say that he delivered. Now, it remains to be seen if he cares enough to continue delivering full-length albums on a consistent basis, but one thing is for certain: he can still rap at a very high level and his songwriting has improved since he came into the game during the mid-2000s.
With that being said, check out the 10 best lines on The Fall-Off below.
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“You got the nerve to ask why I stay in the house more/ Get paid for goin’ in, the f—k I’m goin’ out for?”
Song: “Man Up Above”
This was a witty line from Cole. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to stay in the house—maybe catch up on some shows, write up a Letterboxd review, play some video games, and go in the booth to spit more fire.
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“Turning to the Lord’s ironic at a time when these young n—as so violent, they’ll let off at God in the flesh”
Song: “Drum n Bass”
It’s tough out here. Keep your head on a swivel. They don’t care who they hit these days. It’s part of why rap has been struggling with turning younger stars into older superstars.
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“On cloud nine, now signed to my hero/ One of the so-called kings of this rap thing that I swear to usurp/ Decade later, momma cut on the cable/ My motivation to be greater ends the moment I peer in her purse/ I’m growing shorter, pampers cover my hind quarters/ I watch my father walk back in my life and it clears up a hurt I couldn’t explain”
Song: “The Fall-Off Is Inevitable”
The first line ruffled a couple feathers because people were asking what Cole actually means when he refers to Jay-Z as the game’s “so-called” kings. But what stood out to me was his father walking back into his life—a hard thing for him to revisit and put into a song.
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“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”
Song: “Lonely at the Top”
The old adage rings true—sometimes idols become your rivals. Rap is competitive and we see this dynamic play out frequently. It’s like when Kobe entered the league and immediately started chasing Jordan’s legacy.
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“I started killing n—as one by one, the crowd was gettin’ bigger/ When I got done, they said, ‘Youngin is a problem’/ But yet and still, we in an unknown city where no record deals/ Had ever filled somebody’s pockets—that’s when I clocked it/ If they won’t come to me, I’ll go to them and make a profit”
Song: “and the whole world is the Ville”
J. Cole decided to attend college in New York City with hopes of landing a record deal—and not only did it happen; he was one of Jay-Z’s first signings post-Roc-A-Fella. You can feel or say what you want about Cole, but his story is impressive.
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“That type of games is why two of my homies start to beef/ To both of them she said, ‘You’re the best I ever had’/ And the whole time that b—h was saying that type of s—t to me”
Song: “I Love Her Again”
Cole explains that rap seduced him, Drake, and Kendrick into taking crowns for themselves. This realization may be one reason he bowed out during Dreamville Fest back in 2024.
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“All of y’all n—as is p—y… “
Song:“Bunce Road Blues”This album prompts listeners to revisit The Come Up , understanding its narrative better after hearing this project.
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“I’m No.1… “
Song:“39 Intro”Cole’s traditional rap style remains strong despite high expectations after Kendrick’s recent success.
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“Caught a lot of bodies… “
Song:“Two Six”Cole critiques rappers’ lack of originality regarding car choices like Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Lamborghini Urus.
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“Queue the saga… “
Song:“WHO TF IZ U”This track showcases Cole’s talent at its finest without needing further explanation.
Here you can find original article; photos used also come from source with proper attribution.
