New J. Cole album is packed with Fayetteville references

The Grammy-winning rapper—and Fayetteville native—J. Cole has returned with a new album. It’s loaded with local references.

Fayetteville has been at the forefront since J. Cole announced the Feb. 6 release date for his final album, “The Fall-Off.”

His localized approach has resulted in billboards springing up all throughout the rapper’s hometown. The 2-6-26 release date is an homage to “the All-American City,” nicknamed the 2-6.

The Grammy Award winner and Terry Sanford High School graduate seems intentional in taking listeners on the journey of someone who left home to pursue their dreams before returning home. Divided into two disks, Disc 29 and Disc 39, “The Fall-Off” is interspersed with titles referencing the ‘Ville.

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‘Everything Comes Back Around … ‘

In a Feb. 4 social media post accompanying the release of the tracklist, Cole writes: “The Fall-Off, a double album made with intentions to be my last, brings the concepts of my first project full circle.”

In explaining the double disc format, he writes:

“Disc 29 tells a story of me returning to my hometown at the age 29. A decade after moving to New York, accomplishing what would have seemed impossible to most, I was at a crossroads with the 3 loves of my life, my woman, my craft, and my city.

“Disc 39 gives insight into my mindset during a similar trip home, this time as a 39 year old man. Older and a little closer to peace.”

The discs

Both discs include 11 songs and a bonus track. Titles include:

Disc 29

• “29 Intro”
• “Two Six”
• “SAFETY”
• “Run A Train”
• “Poor Thang”
• “Legacy”
• “Bunce Road Blues”
• “WHO TF IZ U”
• “Drums n Bass”
• “The Let Out”
• “Bombs in the Ville/Hit The Gas”
• “Lonely at the Top” (BONUS)

Disc 39

• “39 Intro”
• “Inevitable”
• “The Villest”
• “Old Dog”
• “Life Sentence”
• “Only You”
• “Man Up Above”
• “I Love Her Again”
• “What If “
• “Quik Stop”
• “and the Whole World is the Ville”
• “Ocean Way” (BONUS)

This time, it’s personal

Though he has always given fans insight into his life, “The Fall-Off” seems particularly personal to Cole.

He even displays his skills as a photographer by using photos that he shot as a teenager as the front and back covers of the project. The front cover is a picture of his first home studio, while the back cover is the walls of his room in his childhood home, filled with posters of his favorite artists, including Fayetteville duo Bomm Sheltuh (RIP Filthe). The “Fall-Off” will be available Feb. 6 (thefalloff.com), and there will be listening parties around Fayetteville and throughout the country.

Salute to Bomm Sheltuh, Cole, Dreamville, and every activist getting active. Peace.

Rakeem “Keem” Jones is a community advocate, father of five and the owner of Keem Jones Content Collection. He can be reached at [email protected].

Reporting by Rakeem “Keem” Jones, Correspondent / The Fayetteville Observer

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