Tomorrow night, J. Cole’s decade of work culminates when he releases “The Fall Off.” We first heard about the album when it was released on KOD in 2018, and it’s been something that has stuck with fans on every project Cole has released since.
Ahead of its release tomorrow night, Cole has revealed the LP’s official tracklisting, as well as the concept for each record.
Cole wrote on his Inevitable blog that the album brought back some sketches from his 2007 mixtape The Come Up fullcircle. The first record, titled Disc 29, tells the story of returning to North Carolina at age 29 and being at a crossroads between his partner, his craft and his city. The second record, Disc 39, is about a similar journey home, this time as a 39-year-old, looking at things from a different, wiser perspective.
In the post, he also confirmed that the album was made with the intention of being his last. However, his wording didn’t make it clear that this would be his last album.
Check out the tracklist below as well as the entire blog post. There are 12 tracks on each side.
Some of the first lyrics to The Come Up were written when I was 19 years old. The title of this project, the first one I’ve ever published, has a double meaning. There’s the obvious question: my ambition is to “appear” in the rap game. The second is more subtle. My physical location changes to do so. I was a delusional teen from Fayetteville, North Carolina, who decided to leave home and “come” to New York on a mission to chase his dreams. When you listen to this project, you hear a college student, with a really sharp pen, tell the world how he’s going to do it, and in the process proudly put his unknown city on the map.
At the end of “The Come Up,” there are a few skits that tell a common story when I was that age. I drove home from school during break, called my mom to let her know I was still a few hours away, then called my accomplices, happy to let them know I was back in town, and asked where the party was?
The Fall-Off is a double album intended to be my last album and it brings the concept of my first project to a full realization.
Disc 29 tells the story of my return to my hometown when I was 29 years old. Ten years after moving to New York and accomplishing what would seem impossible to most, I am at a crossroads with the 3 loves of my life; my women, my craft, and my city.
Disc 39 gave me an insight into my mindset on a similar journey home, this time as a 39 year old man. The older I get, the closer I get to peace.
Without giving too much away, here’s the back cover of The Fall-Off. All photos in this version of the album were taken by me. The front and back covers are photos taken when I was 15 years old. The back cover with the track list is a photo I took of it on my bedroom wall at the time. Thanks to every artist and photographer who cleaned up these photos. As a teenager, I woke up every morning with the utmost respect for you. When this album comes out, know that in some deeper metaphysical way you are also involved in the music.
Recession 2/6/26
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