The On-Season

 

First when it comes to numbers: all 6 LPs released by J. Cole made it to #1 on the Billboard 200, and the latest, The Off-Season, is no exception. Not too shabby, if you ask us. Also, every single album so far made it to Platinum — at least. Again, not too shabby… Add to that the fact that J. Cole is a rather prolific artist: 6 albums released in 10 years, not to mention 1 live album, 3 compilations, 3 EPs, 4 mixtapes… Not too shabby indeed! To cap it all off, the man found the time for his professional basketball debut earlier this year, playing with Rwanda’s Patriots. If you think you’re good at multitasking, think again…

The reception surrounding The Off-Season was on par with the expectations that came with it: a J. Cole album is always a bit of an event, and this one had been teased quite a bit prior to launch to make it feel even more special. The added weight of the pandemic meant that many people were eager to hear what the artist had to say these days. As it turns out, both listeners and critics agreed: the new album did not betray anyone’s hopes. A strong, powerful, singular piece of work, it showcases not only the absolute pertinence of the rapper’s voice today, but also provides an interesting link between old school and new school hip hop, as exemplified by collaborations with young and hot artists like 21 Savage or Lil Baby.

The point is, this album is a highly satisfying listen, starting with the rich beats and samples used on virtually every track. Special mentions go to album opener “95 South”, a perfect introduction to J. Cole circa 2021: assured although not actually cocky, grave although not somber, relevant although experienced. Or “Let Go My Hand”, a subdued track that is somewhat reminiscent of more experimental outfits like The Pharcyde. Or else “Hunger On Hillside”, which upends the set with a beautifully evocative philosophical summary of sorts…

But what is perhaps even more impressive is the fine line J. Cole walks throughout this album, between stating in no incertain terms that he indeed has arrived (just listen to “100 Mil'”), yet being able to remember that the road to get there was neither straight nor short. In other words, and that is arguably the reason this album feels so accomplished, the artist is able to take a step back on a remarkable path while giving us a fair glance as well… And we like what we see!