J. Cole solidified his status in the rap game a long time ago, showing time and time again that he can keep up with anything thrown at him. After an extended hiatus, the rapper has made his return with The Off-Season, and he is showing everyone that he’s not playing around.
Released on May 14th, Cole has been teasing the project since last year, giving fans a glimpse into the process via Instagram. Prior to its release, Cole released a documentary promoting The Off-Season, informing fans that he utilized the same process he did when creating The Warm Up. The results of the process show on the 12-track album, as he shows off with strong tenacious bars on the first half while toning things down on the second.
The production sets the stage for the album, as it blends modern hip-hop with the classic blues sound of the early to mid-20th century. This is seen on tracks suuch as “m y . l i f e” and “i n t e r l u d e” especially, as they utilize smooth bass, guitar chords, and 808s. Tracks like “a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e” and “p u n c h i n’ . t h e . c l o c k” showcase Cole’s versatility and lyricism, as he puts real bars on the table regardless of the difference in beats. He raps about the struggles he as well as other rappers have faced. He talks about how he has been “applying pressure” to overcome them with confidence, all while being supported by heavy 808s. The latter track juxtaposes the former, with Cole opening up to fans about how “now that I’m rich, I feel nobody understanding me” while being supported by more relaxed, almost somber production.
While Cole is able to show off his versatility on The Off-Season, that does not mean it is perfect. Some tracks, like “1 0 0 . m i l ’,” fall flat on the ears, as Cole opts for a repetitive, melodic flow instead of the lyricism that we’re used to hearing from him. This does not take away from the overall album, however, since “l e t . g o . m y . h a n d” and “p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l” make up for it with their toned-down tempos and vulnerable subject matter.
Overall, Cole did what he said he would on The Off-Season, showing listeners how deep his prowess and bag of tricks really go. With 12 tracks, he scratched his lyrical, melodic, and vulnerable itches, and although there were some hiccups, it’s still one of the better projects we’ve gotten this year, especially with the addition of some hidden features.
Have you given J. Cole’s new album, The Off-Season, a listen? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Are you a fan, or would you rather Cole take things back to the drawing board? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comment section. If you want music and style content in your life, make sure to check out our Instagram @audiblwav and YouTube channel. On our Instagram, we keep your feed fresh with concert videos, daily song suggestions, music/style news, and more. We also work to provide you with video content on our YouTube channel. Don’t miss out, tap the links above.