Cole has officially confirmed that his highly anticipated upcoming album will be titled “The Fall Off.” The announcement came during the opening track, “To Summer, From Cole,” on Summer Walker latest EP, “Clear 2: Soft Life,” which was released on May 19th.
In the song, J. Cole delivers a heartfelt verse, accompanied by a tender hook from Walker. It serves as an “audio hug” from the North Carolina rapper to the Atlanta singer. Reminiscent of his uplifting poem about self-acceptance in Logic’s “AfricAryaN.” Cole addresses Walker, congratulating her on the birth of her child and admiring her ability to balance motherhood, her career, fame, and dealing with haters. He cleverly references his upcoming album by stating that people are eagerly waiting for him to “fall off” like the album he’s currently working on.
Throughout his verse, J. Cole reflects on how becoming a father has softened him emotionally, getting emotional when listening to certain songs. He acknowledges that fatherhood has made him more sensitive than he already was.
Cole initially announced “The Fall Off” in 2020 through an Instagram post that outlined his release plans for “The Fall Off Era.” The post also mentioned his sixth album, “The Off-Season,” which was release the following year, as well as a possible project titled “It’s a Boy” and, finally, “The Fall Off.”
The excitement for “The Fall Off” has been further fuel by J. Cole’s longtime manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad. Who expressed his desire to see the rapper perform the album in its entirety during a tour.
While specific details about the album are still scarce, “The Fall Off” may potentially mark a bittersweet moment in J. Cole’s career, as he has hinted at retirement multiple times this year, despite being only 38 years old. In his lyrics on the “Adonis Interlude (The Montage)” from the Creed III soundtrack, he suggests that “The Fall Off” will provide an explanation regarding the end of a chapter and the possibility of a fulfilling reign. Additionally, on his collaboration with K-pop superstar J-Hope of BTS, titled “On the Street,”. He contemplates whether he should pursue a different hobby, acknowledging the difficulty of letting go of his passion for rap.
It appears that J. Cole and Summer Walker have developed a friendship in recent months. Walker performed at Cole’s Dreamville Festival in April. And the two were seen enjoying each other’s company and playing basketball at an afterparty at Dave & Buster’s.
Walker’s “Clear 2: Soft Life” EP boasts additional star power with contributions from Childish Gambino, Solange, and Steve Lacy.
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