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Billboard ranks all 24 songs from J. Cole's final album, The Fall-Off.
2/6/2026
J. Cole David Peters
On Friday (Feb. 6), J. Cole unleashed his seventh and arguably final album, The Fall Off. The double-disc project spans 24 songs (12 on each side) and could very well put a bow on the career of one of hip-hop’s greatest rappers.
For Cole, the embattled MC has weathered his share of trials and tribulations since stepping away from the heavyweight bout between Drake and Kendrick Lamar in 2024. Since then, he’s dropped a handful of one-off records — including “Clouds” — along with a recently released EP, Birthday Blizzard ’26, last week.
“The Fall Off, a double album made with intentions to be my last, brings the concept of my first project full circle. Disc 29 tells a story of me returning to my hometown at age 29,” Cole wrote on Instagram earlier this past Wednesday (Feb. 4).
He continued: “A decade after moving to New York, accomplishing what would have seemed impossible to most, I was at a crossroads with the three 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.”
With limited features — including appearances by Future, Burna Boy, and Tems — if this truly is Cole’s farewell, he’s made sure it wasn’t a somber one. The Dreamville CEO delivers a hip-hop masterwork rooted in his affinity for ’90s rap, crafty storytelling, and steely wordplay.
Billboard ranked all 24 songs from Cole’s The Fall Off. Give it a read below.
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“29 Intro”
“29 Intro” sets the table for what’s arguably J. Cole’s final album. On his seventh release, Cole taps into his 29-year-old self, lacing his sneakers up for what he calls the last run of his career. No bars, no filler — just a rousing introduction for Cole.
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“Bombs in the Ville / Hit the Gas”
J. Cole has had moments in his career where he hasn’t taken himself too seriously (remember his verse on Cash Cobain’s “Grippy”?). This falls right in line with that. Though the production and beat switch are solid, Cole’s lackadaisical rhymes and half-hearted singing make “Bombs in the Ville / Hit the Gas” one of the few skips on The Fall Off.
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“The Let Out”
J. Cole takes a spin to the club on “The Let Out,” wondering if he’ll make it home. The record taps into that uneasy moment when everyone exits the spot at the end of the night, and things turn unpredictable. Here, feelings are testy, and Cole questions whether he’ll make it out safely as envy and greed seep into the atmosphere. It’s a cautionary tale for club-goers because “The Let Out” doesn’t always come with a happy ending.
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“Two Six”
On “Two Six,” the first verse of The Fall Off feels like a warm-up for J. Cole — no pun intended. While the production carries a high-level cinematic feel, it’s not until the second verse that Cole really revs things up lyrically. “Two Six” is a decent start for Cole, and a solid wake-up call for anyone looking for more energy from him.
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“and the whole world is the Ville”
As much as J. Cole shouts out Fayetteville, “and the whole world is the Ville” feels like the closest we’ll ever get to a true love letter to his hometown. From spelling out the city on the hook to reflecting on his growing pains, Cole pulls back the curtain for a deeper look at the place that raised him. With this album arguably serving as his swan song, it stands as a fitting tribute.
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“Only You”
On “Only You,” Cole continues his love letter to his wife, layering gratitude over reflection as he acknowledges everything from motherhood to her unwavering dedication. With Burna Boy’s soulful assist adding emotional gravity, the record captures Cole caught between devotion and distraction, and the discipline it takes to choose home every time.
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“The Villest”
With the album seeping in ’90s flavor, J. Cole dips back into his East Coast bag, sampling Mobb Deep’s “The Realest” for “The Villest.” The rhyming is top-notch, but it’s hard to gloss over the original — previously slayed by Prodigy and Havoc — even with the new-age vocals from Erykah Badu via her remake with The Alchemist.
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“Legacy”
Regret bleeds through “Legacy.” Though J. Cole has something great at home, he’s still in constant search of something more. He relishes staring into his rearview and sitting in his temporary pocket of bliss, aware of what it brings to the table. And even knowing he shouldn’t send that text, he can’t help but wonder what slipped through his fingers. For Cole, “Legacy” lands middle of the road — a record that could’ve benefited from a feature by Dreamville co-star J.I.D.
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“Lonely at the Top (Bonus)”
On “Lonely at the Top (Bonus),” J. Cole airs out his angst toward some of his idols who’ve grown unmotivated. The dissection of his rap heroes is candid, as Cole — a lifelong student of old-school hip-hop — comes to terms with the fact that he can only do so much to push them toward their highest potential. Despite wanting to spark that fire, he knows the effort may be futile. It’s a decent closer and a fitting conclusion for where his mind was at on Disc 29. -
“Poor Thang”
With three-verse records becoming a lost art in hip-hop, J. Cole revives the sport and applies heavy pressure on “Poor Thang.” His third verse is the most aggressive, punctuating each bar with “punk b–ch” as he seeks retribution on anyone who dared taunt or sully his name. Vengeful Cole lives on.
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“Old Dog”
Though J. Cole has been adopted by New York thanks to his college ties to St. John’s University, he goes back home on “Old Dog,” tapping Carolina legend Petey Pablo for the high-octane record. The frenzied duo blitz the track with gusto as Cole pays homage to his NC brethren, including DaBaby, on the fiery cut.
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“Ocean Way (Bonus)”
After years of barreling MCs with haymakers or bone-crushing metaphors, “Ocean Way” — The Fall Off’s closer — finds J. Cole in a far more subdued space. In a poetic way, it feels almost like when John Cena tapped out in his final match. Cole’s acceptance and quiet resignation on “Ocean Way” — a song with no rapping at all — feels like a strong signal that this may very well be the last record of his career, and he’s completely at peace with that.
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“Run a Train”
Having not one but two Future features on a J. Cole album is an impressive feat for the Dreamville huncho. After connecting on “Red Leather” in 2024, Cole and Future link back up on “Run a Train,” a strong appetizer ahead of their later collaboration, “Bunce Road Blues.” With a fistful of punchlines — including *NSYNC and Rip Hamilton namedrops — Cole’s lyrical dagger stays sharp as Future holds it down on hook duties.
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“Drum n Bass”
J. Cole reaches an otherworldly level on “Drum n Bass,” pushing his pen to the brink with intricate rhyme schemes. Here, he moves intentionally when counting syllables, making every bar count. “My greatest of wins came when I annotated my gems/The s–t I write so fire, I got my hand afraid of my pen, uh,” he raps. On The Fall Off, the message is clear: Cole is testing his merits as a lyricist in every dimension — storytelling, delivery and technical precision. With “Drum n Bass,” he passes that test with flying colors.
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“Quik Stop”
On “Quik Stop,” J. Cole’s gratitude goes a step further as he thanks a fan he casually meets. The poignant exchange proves to be a much-needed moment for Cole, who comes to realize the impact his music has had on the life of a troubled supporter. In the end, he reframes his priorities and understands that chasing greatness comes second to serving the loyal fanbase that carried him there.
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“Man Up Above”
Cole flips Marvin Sapp’s “Never Would Have Made It” into a haunting backdrop, where he details the treacherous street life many succumb to. Playing the role of a field reporter, Cole chillingly raps about how gun violence plagues inner-city communities and how loss compounds over time. With Cole in observation mode, he sounds the alarm on what happens when trauma goes unchecked.
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“Who TF IZ U”
J. Cole’s wordplay reaches a fever pitch on “Who TF IZ U.” With T-Minus helming production duties, Cole feasts over Mobb Deep’s “Drop a Gem on ‘Em” before colliding with another speedy beat switch. Undeterred, Cole excavates through the track with relative ease, flexing his dexterity like a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
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“What If”
On “What If,” J. Cole cosplays The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac, writing from their vantage points during the peak of their feud. Instead of spewing vitriol like the ’90s titans did in their heyday, Cole takes a different direction and chooses peace and forgiveness. The precocious rhymer does a strong job of offering a perspective both men likely would’ve embraced if given a second chance.
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“Bunce Road Blues”
Nobody’s bingo card had J. Cole, Future, Tems and The Alchemist all on a track, but here we are. Soundtracked by Alc’s jazzy backdrop, Cole offers to kill his career in favor of starting over, while Future interpolates Usher’s “Nice & Slow” with his signature street bravado. The gumbo reaches its boil when a soulful Tems arrives at the tail end, bringing the mega-collaboration full circle.
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“Safety”
Oozing with ’90s energy, J. Cole’s hallmark for storytelling thrives on “Safety.” Cole roleplays some of his homies from back home, who praise him for his stardom and celebrity while keeping him plugged in on neighborhood gossip. His ability to weave in and out of character is supremely underrated, as he morphs into different personas flawlessly throughout the album, most notably here on “Safety.”
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“Life Sentence”
“Life Sentence” floats on the spirit of DMX, with J. Cole interpolating the hook to his 1998 classic “How’s It Goin’ Down” for a reflective ode to his longtime love. Tracing their journey from teenage romance to grown-man devotion, Cole wrestles openly with temptation while ultimately centering loyalty in what’s arguably his best ruminations on love and commitment since “Foldin Clothes.”
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“The Fall-Off Is Inevitable”
Released ahead of The Fall Off, J. Cole envisions his life in reverse on “The Fall-Off Is Inevitable,” circling back from death to infancy. The stages are vividly detailed — from his grandchildren serving as pallbearers and carrying him to his grave, to later signing with his idol, Jay-Z. Much like he does on “I Love Her Again,” Cole channels another ’90s rap icon in Nas, and crafts his own version of “Rewind” by telling his story backwards.
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“39 Intro”
A record J. Cole said he wrote and recorded at 39 — a full decade after he penned “29 Intro” — this finds a fully evolved, seasoned Cole. Following the beat switch, he slips into an out-of-body zone and hatches into the peak version of himself lyrically. His rhyme scheme and cadence are god-tier, further proving why he’s really battling himself. “I’m number one, you gettin’ the gist?/ Anything lower, you better reconsider your list,” he declares.
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“I Love Her Again”
With Common’s “I Used To Love H.E.R.” serving as inspiration, J. Cole gives the ’90s classic a modern-day twist. Reconfiguring the concept with Rubik’s Cube precision, Cole unpacks his years-long affinity and growing anguish with the genre he once grew up on. From moving to New York to watching hip-hop’s power shift to the South, his lyrical mastery and storytelling remain pristine, as he nearly matches Common’s wit from his original 1994 letter to the culture.
English (US)