J. Cole has mentioned The Fall Off, which is supposed to be his “last album,” several times in his lyrics. Last year, Cole’s manager Ibrahim Hamad hinted about The Fall Off. When Dreamville’s official account asked what album would fans like to see the North Carolina rapper perform in its entirety, Hamad answered The Fall Off.

His reply garnered almost 10,000 likes and several hundred retweets.

The Fall Off was originally announced in 2018 on social media. Before The Fall Off is to be released, Cole has a number of projects that will eventually lead to it. He’s dubbed these projects “The Fall Off Era.” In that list of projects, he has already completed and released The Off-Season, which dropped in 2021.

J. Cole Teases Retirement

Last year, Cole cleared his Instagram account, and fans believed that he would be dropping It’s A Boy, the next album on his list from 2018. However, there have not been any updates on that album either.

In 2020, the North Carolina native spoke to SLAM Magazine and wrestled with the idea of retirement but says he’ll never actually reveal when he will stop creating music.

“Oh, bro, I’m super comfortable with the potential of being done with this s—. But I’m never going to say, Oh, this is my last album,” he told the publication. He added the reason behind that is because he doesn’t know how he’d feel in years to come. But says he’s “doing all this work for a reason.”

In 2023, he had a phenomenal feature run and one included his guest verse on J-Hope’s “On the Street,” where he rapped about continuing to create music.

“I contemplate if I should wait to hand over the crown/And stick around for a bit longer, I got a strange type of hunger/The more I eat, the more it gets stronger.”

Take a look at five times J. Cole has mentioned The Fall Off below:

• "1985 (Intro To The Fall Off)" - J. Cole 'KOD' (2018)

  One of J. Cole’s first mentions of The Fall Off is from 2018 on “1985.” While he doesn’t mention the forthcoming album in the lyrics, he mentions it in the subtitle of the song. The full name of the song is “1985 (Intro To The Fall Off)” seemingly marking the beginning to the end. The song closes out Cole’s 2018 album KOD.

• "my.life" - J. Cole ft. 21 Savage and Murray 'The Off-Season' (2021)

  While it was three years since Cole mentioned The Fall Off, there was no subtitling like he did in 2018. In the song, “my.life” Cole gives fans a direct response to the album. “After The Fall Off, I promise I’m comin’ and sellin’ out Wrigley’s,” Cole raps referring to his album and the Chicago Major League Baseball field. Although Cole mentions the album he doesn’t give any clarity to fans on what or when to expect the project. “my.life” was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance in 2022.

• "First Person Shooter" - Drake ft. J. Cole 'For All The Dogs' (2023)

  In one of the first songs from Drake and J. Cole together in years, the North Carolina native takes the grand opportunity to mention his album. “I’m namin’ the album The Fall Off, it’s pretty ironic ’cause it ain’t no fall off for me,” Cole raps. While, he mentions the album as he flexes about his rap skills, fans are still without answers.

  The KOD rapper earned his first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the track. He later commented on the song during his interview on Lil Yachty’s A Safe Place Podcast. “I love Drake and I love that I’m a part of that moment with him with Michael Jackson. But it’s like, bruh, I’m grateful I’m a part of it, but if that other song [“IDGAF”] would’ve went number one, n—-, I’m still grateful I’m a part of it.” “IDGAF” featuring Yeat took the No. 2 spot on chart. Drake is tied with Michael Jackson for the most number of singles by a male solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100 with 13.

• "To Summer From Cole (audio hug)" - Summer Walker ft. J. Cole 'Clear 2: Soft Life EP' (2023)

  In “To Summer From Cole (audio hug),” Cole praises Summer Walker for her artistry, being a good mother, and holding R&B down. He also uses his verse to speak on The Fall Off. “They sit around waitin’ for you to fall off/Like the album I’m makin,'” he raps comparing his album title to how fans hate on the R&B singer. “To Summer From Cole (audio hug)” is the first track on Clear 2: Soft Life. Walker earned her first solo Grammy nomination for Clear 2: Soft Life for Best R&B Album at the 2024 GRAMMYS.

• "Adonis Interlude (The Montage)" - J. Cole 'Dreamville's Creed III Soundtrack' (2023)

  Cole and his Dreamville signees soundtracked Creed III starring Michael B. Jordan and Johnathan Majors. On “Adonis Interlude (The Montage)” Cole raps, “Just cop The Fall Off and he’ll explain.” Unlike the other mentions of the album it seems that Cole gives a little more insight for the project with the following lines, “Is it the end of the chapter, happily ever after?/Bet this gon’ be the year that fulfill his reign, mane.” The last line ends the song and any other information lyrically about the project at this time.

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