Jermaine Lamarr Cole, better known as, J. Cole, is a 41-year-old Rapper and Record Producer who was born on a military base in Frankfurt, West Germany. He was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he started his journey in Rapping and producing. He gained fame with his hit song “Work Out” in 2011 from his debut studio album, ‘Cole World: The Sideline Story’. Now, he has over 38.1 million Spotify listeners monthly. On February 6, 2026, he released a new album titled ‘The Fall Off’. This album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and has over 140 million streams on Spotify. ‘The Fall Off’ is a 24-track, double-disc project with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. The songs that I enjoyed were “Quik Stop,” “Man Up Above,” “The Villest,” and “I Love Her Again.”
QUICK STOP
This masterpiece starts off with a low ring that soon intertwines with a guitar sound, followed by a soft beat. J. Cole comes in with this mellow voice and devours the song with his Rapping ability. Along with the exquisite beat was the significance of the lyrics that he was pouring into the listener’s hearts. The lyrics signify how sometimes a celebrity can get lost in their thoughts and needs to embrace them.
MAN UP ABOVE
The song begins with a snippet from Marvin Sapp’s smash hit “Never Would’ve Made It”. During the introduction there were thumping sounds presented on the top of the suspenseful melody. J. Cole’s fluent and poetic style of Rapping was just the sprinkle on the cake creating this song. The lyrics had a powerful meaning that may hit home for some people. He really emphasized the struggle and power that street life has on people and families. To highlight the impact of the streets, he resonates tremendously with his listeners.
THE VILLEST
The beat of this song reminds me of childhood memories. Due to the sweet, Jazzy, and atmospheric elements of the song, many scenarios of the hood/low-income areas may come to your head. Flowing with the harmonious sound is no other than the Neo-Soul queen herself, Erika Badu. The beat and the voices are just the beginning of how wonderfully crafted this song is. The meaning of this song is what makes this masterpiece extraordinary. J. Cole uplifts the words by implying the simple fact that it doesn’t matter where you come from, your dreams will come true. Just be patient and work for it.
I LOVE HER AGAIN
Right off the bat were these unusual sounds that seem like they are mixed with a low staticky sound which was lowered with a soft beat that increases and decreases throughout the entire song. Followed by an authentic chorus was J. Cole’s voice that is pitched perfectly throughout the entire song. To top off the song he mentioned a certain someone whom he had romantic feelings for in college.
In my opinion, the album was a complete success. Definitely give it a listen.
