After three years, J. Cole finally dropped his highly anticipated album, The Off-Season on May 14, 2021. What makes it interesting? The following points will show how it is interesting.
J. Cole dropped the Applying Pressure Documentary on YouTube
Before dropping the album, Cole has made some valid points on what to expect in the album. For instance, he gives a reason why the album is called, "The Off Season."In his conversation with 21 Savage on the Off-season documentary, J. Cole said:
"I had a mixtape called the warm-up. At that time I was tryna get a deal. I was like I thought I was gonna get this deal with somebody because my music was good and I had little connections to the industry but also I had graduated college. I was broke nigga I was struggling to pay my rent, I had no job and I was kinda being complacent because I had crazy music and I was kinda chilling like as if it was good enough to get me where I need to go and I had a realisation......"
There was an intervention where the people he was hanging around with said something to Cole. They said, "you want to do music yet you're partying." Cole had a realisation that he had to sober up quickly and that's when he started thinking about basketball. He thought about the reason why he didn't put any work into his music hence that's how he came up with the mixtape, "The Warm-Up." Every day he woke up and wrote verses, made beats. Therefore, as Cole puts it, "the off-season is the same concept". The off-season is more like the mixtape the warm-up. This clearly shows that he has put work into his craft.
In the documentary, Cole talks about other important issues such as comfort being his enemy and how he had to have a schedule where he had to make time for his family. The documentary also hinted at some tracks that are available in the album. These include The Climb Back and Applying Pressure.
In terms of track, "Applying Pressure" the hint is shown through the title of the documentary, "Cole - Applying Pressure: The Off-Season Documentary." Moreover, Cole actually played his other track, "The Climb Back" in the documentary as he gives insightful words. He said:
"When I really fell in love with rap, it was just a matter of sport. I started realising the parallel between the rapper for me and basketball. I gotta operate at a high skill level and the only way to operate at a high skill level is putting in the hours"
He put in the hours of the album hence why most listeners find the album interesting. There are so many important details found in the documentary. If you haven't watched it, you can click the link after finishing reading this music review.
J. Cole did two freestyles at the Power 106 Los Angeles
J. Cole did freestyles over Mike Jones' "Always Tippin" & "93 Til Infinity." It was a way of letting everyone know that he has not fallen off. It was also a way of promoting his album, "The Off-Season" which has gained massive success. It has reached number 1 on US iTunes, according to the charts data.
The Track List
In light of all the tracks they were good. However, I will only talk about my favourites.
95.south
Immediately when I heard this track, I already fell in love with it. It's like an uproar as it is shown in the intro:
[Intro: Cam'ron & J. Cole]
Killa, it's The Off-Season
Let's keep it tall, y'all ain't fuckin' with my man
And don't check your watch, you know the time
From the onset, this is letting the listeners know that it is the Off-Season. It is Cole time to shine to show you that he is back in the rap game, showcasing his lyrical content. There is an interesting part where Cole said:
[Verse 2: J. Cole]
"B***h, my pen to the paper's lethal
I'm sendin' 'em straight to meet the
The nigga that made them, peep the reaper
Creepin' on ya, the scent of failure reekin' on ya.."
The part where he said, "B***h, my pen to the paper's lethal" could mean that he is gifted when it comes to writing his lyrics. Perhaps it explains why in the documentary he said, "I gotta operate at a high skill level and the only way to operate at a high skill level is putting in the hours." He has put in the hours in perfecting his craft especially his lyrical content. The music in the background also commands the listener to listen to what J. Cole has to say. It has that upbeat mix with a bass background. It stays consistent as Cole raps. Therefore that is why it is interesting.
Applying pressure
Oh yes, he is applying pressure alright. The beat stays consistent with a deep bass background as cole spits his lyrics. He said:
"Ni**a look you dead in your face
And really act like you don't do it to the level that you do it
That's why sometimes you gotta come through and just do it at the level that you do it in front of every ni**a face
So they know the difference between you, the real niggas, and the mothaf**kin' fraudulent ni**as, man
Don't never get it f**ked up
If a ni**a can't do it like you do it sometimes you gotta do it in front of his f**kin' face so he'll know forever"
From my perspective, he could be saying that do not live your life based on someone else's expectations. As long as you're happy, that's what matters. As Cole spits his lyrics, the beat is moderate to give Cole space to showcase his lyricism. Cole definitely applied pressure in this track.
Pride is the devil
The track was produced by T-Minus. Electric guitar plays in the background with a mixture of a percussion beat as Cole raps. It stays consistent. The beat is moderate. Lil Baby also showcased his fast-paced rapping ability. However, out of all this, there is the important part where Cole said:
"Pride make a nigga act way harder than he really be
Pride hide the shame when city cut off all utilities
From my perspective, Cole may be highlighting the consequences of having pride. It may lead to challenges people may face such as poverty. Therefore the song is catchy yet informative at the same time.
Let go my hand
As Cole starts to sing, drums play with a trumpet mixed with a bass background. Afterwards, Cole starts to rap with soft vocals saying:
"Sometimes I question whether this shit matters
Puttin' substance into something in a world so used to instant gratification.. "
From the lyrics, Cole is probably talking about his challenges as a rapper. For instance, coming up with lyrical content and whether it is good or bad. However, he still finds ways to perfect his craft.
Another interesting part is when J. Cole, Bas and 6lack sing together in harmony. This is shown in the chorus:
[Chorus: J. Cole, Bas & 6LACK]
"Soldier's song, marching on, on
Hoping to see home
If I die before I
See your smile just one more time"
With three rappers singing together, it gives listeners more reason to appreciate the rappers lyrical content. Also, it probably shows the listeners the other side of the rappers. That they can have both hard and soft vocals. Therefore that is why it is interesting.
In a nutshell, I loved the concept of the album. It showed J. Cole's side of having hard and soft vocals. It also showed listeners the other side of 6lack and Bas. J.Cole also talks about his ability to write lyrical content and his challenges as a rapper. Lastly, the album being reminiscent of his mixtape, "The Warm-Up" gives listeners a chance to understand his journey as a rapper. Therefore I rate the album 10/10.
Here is the link to the album: https://open.spotify.com/album/4JAvwK4APPArjIsOdGoJXX
Here are the sources I used for writing this music review:
The Documentary: https://youtu.be/135bv6GhD2M
Two freestyles at the Power 106 Los Angeles: https://youtu.be/YlpN3S16ZAs
The song lyrics: https://genius.com/albums/J-cole/The-off-season
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