J. Cole releases the highly anticipated double-disc album ‘The Fall-Off”

Per Cole, his latest project is “a double album made with intentions to be” his last.

The Dreamville founder unveils 24 tracks just days before the arrival of his supposed final album. Listen Now

J. Cole has finally released long-awaited album The Fall-Off, and as expected, it features numerous intricate, layered, and extensive verses for fans to delve into.

On Friday (Feb. 6), the Dreamville co-founder finally released his highly anticipated new album, a double-disc collection that he previously stated “completes the concept of my first project.” In a note to fans shared in the days before the album's release, Cole explained the artistic goals for each half of the new album while linking the overall narrative to The Come Up, his 2007 debut mixtape.

In one of the standout tracks on the second disc, "What If," the North Carolina emcee takes on the personas of Biggie Smalls in the first verse and Tupac Shakur in the second, envisioning an alternate reality where their East Coast/West Coast rivalry never intensified past Pac's "Hit 'Em Up."

In the opening verse, "The Notorious B.I.G." expresses to his rival that he still cares for him despite the diss, reminisces about visiting him after he was shot, reflects on the reasons Pac might have criticized him, and mentions the media's role in creating an East versus West conflict. This verse is structured as a letter, which "2Pac" receives in the second verse. Cole envisions an alternate scenario where Pac decides not to go to Vegas, and from his viewpoint, discusses the reasons he felt driven to diss Big and why he was emotionally vulnerable.

Both verses end with the artists expressing remorse for their misdeeds, an intriguing link to J. Cole's personal narrative. "What If" is certainly one of the most conceptually deep yet controversial tracks on The Fall-Off, and it will undoubtedly keep sparking discussion and debate as fans continue to listen to this LP.

Although Biggie and Tupac's viewpoints are reflected in this track, they are not presented musically through a sample or tribute. However, J. Cole selected beats from the Bad Boy era, such as the legendary "Who Shot Ya?," for his recent Birthday Blizzard '26 freestyles project, hosted by DJ Clue.

In other parts of J. Cole's album The Fall-Off, traditional collaborations include Future on the track "Run A Train" and on "Bunce Road Blues," which also features Tems. Additionally, "Old Dog" includes North Carolina legend Petey Pablo, while "Only You" features Burna Boy.

J. Cole conveys remorse for growing apart from a childhood friend because of their sexual orientation in the song “SAFETY,” featured on his latest album The Fall-Off.

The song, produced by Cole, DZL, Wu10, Sucuki, and Powers Pleasant, features the Dreamville co-founder reflecting on the broken relationship with a deceased friend, identified as Quay in the third verse.

Cole opens the verse by laying claim to a renewed “appreciation” for life, which he credits to experiencing the deaths of “so many of our peers” over the years. Quay, he continues, died from “medical conditions that were too advanced for doctors to intervene,” later clarifying that the cause of death was believed by some to be Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, i.e., AIDS.

The Fall-Off, a double-disc affair that Cole says was “made with intentions to be my last,” is out now. Listen here.