J. Cole has sparked excitement among fans with a new hint about his long-awaited album, The Fall Off.
During the finale of his 2014 Forest Hills Drive 10th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden on Monday (December 16), the Dreamville icon teased the project’s arrival.
“I’ll see y’all at Dreamville Festival. Hopefully, I’ll have something new to perform for y’all,” he told the crowd, signaling that the album could drop early in 2024, ahead of April’s festival.
The anniversary show was a spectacle, with Cole performing Forest Hills Drive in its entirety, alongside hits like “Work Out” and “Power Trip,” and fan favorites such as “2Face,” “I Get Up,” and “Grown Simba.” The stage design paid homage to the Fayetteville, North Carolina home featured on the album’s cover. Cole also made a heartfelt gesture by offering 2,014 tickets for just $1 each, giving fans a chance to witness the celebration without financial barriers.
One of the evening’s emotional highlights came when Cole asked the sold-out audience to embrace those around them before launching into “Note to Self.” Reflecting on the turbulent year, he remarked, “2024’s been absolutely insane, you know what I mean? And in times like these, a picture like this is what a na needs to see. Love in this muthafa.”
Adding to the buzz, last week’s announcement that next year’s Dreamville Festival will be its final installment has fueled speculation about Cole’s future in music. The two-day event, set for April 5 and 6 at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, has yet to reveal its lineup, but the news has prompted fans to wonder if Cole might be nearing retirement.
His longtime manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad, expressed gratitude to supporters on social media, writing:
“Thank you, North Carolina. Thank you to everyone who’s traveled from all over the last 4 years to enjoy our little family reunion. This festival is something a lot of people have been working very hard to bring you, and it’s honestly been a dream come true seeing the impact.”
Fans are reading between the lines, with some interpreting the festival’s conclusion as a sign that Cole may be preparing to step away from music. Apple Music’s Lowkey captured the sentiment, asking followers, “With the podcast, mixtapes on DSPs, the MSG show, and the last Dreamville Fest… y’all think Cole is done after this next album?”
Cole has previously hinted at the possibility of retiring, most recently in his verse on “On the Street” with BTS star J-Hope. He rapped: “Some days I wonder if I need to pick a different hobby / I’m deep in with this rappin’, it’s all a n***a know / I never did nothin’ better, it’s hard to let it go.”
The lines, coupled with his recent moves, have left fans eager to see whether The Fall Off will mark a turning point in his illustrious career.
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