my unserious review of jcoles final album (the fall off; disc 29) - in progress
the fall off is jcoles seventh album (and technically eighth album - i'll get that later) which features Disc 29 and Disc 39. lets get into Disc 29 - im going to use a five star system and include my thoughts notes.
my process: listen to the album with my notebook; write out thoughts/feelings/callouts and lyrics that stood out to me; rate the song out out 5. 1 being "ehh not my fave" to 5 being "absolute poetry, amazing no notes"
im a fan of j cole and am excited about this album so lets gooooo!
track 1 & 2: 29 intro | two six
rating: ★★★★★/5
favorite line: im a small fish from a pond where they crash out
notes & callouts:
this is a good intro to the album! its energetic, poetic, prophetic, with a braggadocious flair calling back to where he's come from, what he's done and planning to do.
this album will be an ode to coles home state & hometown, his (sort of beef) among the rap elite and reputation in the industry
two six has booming bass and high hats that feel nostalgic (loveee)
if i wasnt rappin' b*tch, I might just be the president
honestly j cole could win local/state elections and be a great advocate for nc (similar to Mamdani). idk if thats in his future but since famous people seem to become politicians all the time - he should do it (its better than what we got right now)
this sounds like it was supposed to be a drake diss (if cole had continued)
we know your sh*t is droppin', we aint coppin' what you sellin' us
don't believe me? call your favorite rapper for the evidence
im the future of this rap sh*t, f*ck everthing that i did in the past
this makes me wonder if j cole is entering his sasha fierce era where he will still be involved in music just through a different medium (à la andre 3000s flute and piano albums, juicy j's caught in illusions jazz album etc.)
cole compares todays love of social media, spectacle, clout, and keeping up with the joneses to the crack epidemic from the 80s and 90s - expanding on his continued criticisms of how social media has eroded connection among community and the younger generation
be careful of the devil and the melodies you hum, smiling goin viral while infectin' all the young
spooooky - this lyric jumped out to me because of its haunting and spiritual context. it made me think of you are what you eat/what you consume is consuming you in all aspects;
be careful of the harmful messages people put out another nod to his thoughts on the music industry and its impact on younger generations (go listen to KOD, 1985 | Intro to "The Fall Off")
rating: ★★/5
favorite line: stay aware cuz real niggas is rare
notes & callouts:
the format of this song reminds me of Stan by Eminem. Cole rapping from the perspective of an old friend leaving voicemails to Cole about his rise to fame, family, and how his hometown as evolved while he has been famous.
cole reminisces about old classmates and peers how their life has changed
this also seems like a reflection on how rap has changed and how peers in the rap industry have changed or fell off (side-eye nm and her spiral)
verse 2 is probably my favorite but also the most heartbreaking - cole talks about dealing with death of close family and friends (due to drugs and gun violence)
verse 3 - i can see where people may not like this track because cole outlines his complacency and unwillingness to stick up for an old friend who was closeted. now that this person has passed, he regrets how he treated them and wishes he could apologize.
rating: ★★★/5
favorite line: fuck the world lets run a train
notes & callouts:
run a train opens with future screaming lol his voice is so distinct ask what do we know about struggle, pain, and jermaine? keeping with the theme of the disc about being misunderstood as a person and rapper and balancing that with the family and friends he has distanced himself while becoming more successful.
rating: ★★★★★/5
favorite line:
notes & callouts:
this song uses a boosie sample (while its a classic, we cant support boosie over here)
this song explores and describes the pressure of society and peer pressure that men experience and how it can push them towards self destructive behaviors and tragedy in pursuit of money, status, and fame.
during refrain of this song cole raps: dont pull out no pistol, run me my fade/come get your issues, no one gets sprayed/win or you loose, live to fight another day/and if i take an L, i wont feel no way/cause ive been through worser things
he should have included the audio from Friday - Rest in Power John Witherspoon and Tommy Lister Jr. (hopefully he does during the concert or tour set)
verse 2 is my favorite part of the song. no notes just poetry. but also feels like a drake diss (calling out someone who is frontin and putting on a persona to fit in, when its clear they are a punk)
rating: ★★★/5
favorite lines: some of the evil that i seen you do is unbelievable /menopause shit
notes & callouts:
this song is a lovesick confession about his past relationships and the one who got away.
my heart too black like white flight (this made me cackle) cole compares the gentrification and white peoples perceptions of the cities they have left and now want to reclaim as a metaphor for regretting breaking up/mistreatment of his ex.
track 7: bunce road blues
rating: ★★★★★/5
favorite line: you always were a bright star to me/even at times when the world didn't say so
notes & callouts:
another favorite of mine. the tems feature is *chefs kiss* barz
rating: ★★★★/5
favorite line: on deuteronomy, ain shit niggas can do to honor me what im quotin' is God-sculpted, come view the pottery/i blaze by graveyards and destitute economies/full of thug bones for refusin' to move in harmony
notes & callouts:
i would love to hear this in a dj set (especially the intro) mixed into doechi's what it is (solo version ofc) or cuttys some cut (start up the bed squeak)
this song is more sobering than all the other songs in disc29, here we get raw jcole, sharp word play, double entendres, and rhythmic multi syllable rhymes it feels reminiscent of lil wayne
