J. Cole may have been forced back to the drawing board on The Fall Off, and the reason reportedly traces back to the explosive Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud.
The long-teased album has been in development for years, but according to recent claims from Mal on the Rory & Mal Podcast, Cole's plans were significantly disrupted once tensions between Drake and Kendrick Lamar boiled over earlier this year.
According to Mal, Cole originally recorded The Fall Off with features from both Drake and Kendrick, a collaboration that became impossible once relations between the two artists collapsed.
"Yes, Kendrick was on the album, and Drake was on the album," Mal said. "Well, was, which is why we didn't get the album, cause now he gotta do his whole album over."
If Mal's take is true, it would explain the prolonged silence surrounding the project. Cole has teased The Fall Off since at least 2018, yet has offered little clarity on its status in recent months. He has also largely stepped away from social media following the controversy, fueling speculation that the album has undergone major changes behind the scenes.
There has been no official confirmation from J. Cole or his team regarding the reported re-recording. Cole's most recent release, Might Delete Later, arrived just before the beef reached its peak. At the time, hip-hop was already buzzing after Kendrick's "Like That" verse, and Cole briefly entered the fray with "7 Minute Drill," a diss track aimed at Kendrick.
The song was quickly removed, followed by Cole's public apology during Dreamville Fest, a moment that sparked widespread debate about his role in the conflict. For now, The Fall Off remains unreleased, and fans are still waiting patiently, hoping the long-delayed album eventually sees the light of day.
