J. Cole has released a surprise four-track freestyle project. The DJ Clue-hosted release became available on 27 January through the rapper’s official website.
Project Format and Sound
The project presents a return to classic mixtape form. Cole performs over recognisable instrumentals, including the Stevie J-produced beat from Diddy’s “Victory,” originally featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes.
Each track centres on uninterrupted verses, maintaining a stripped-back structure focused entirely on lyric delivery.
Kendrick Lamar Reference
One of the freestyles directly references Cole’s 2024 exchange with Kendrick Lamar. The episode began with Cole’s “7 Minute Drill,” which was later withdrawn from streaming platforms.
He subsequently issued a public apology to Kendrick Lamar at Dreamville Festival, formally withdrawing from the confrontation and bringing the exchange to a close.
In the new verse, Cole addresses that decision in plain terms. He states that the apology altered his standing and forced a restart from a lower position.
Album Context
The EP arrives as a lead-in to his forthcoming studio album The Fall-Off, scheduled for release on 6 February 2026.
Earlier this month, Cole introduced the album cycle with “Disc 2 Track 2,” a single structured around his life story in reverse order. His last full-length project, The Off-Season, was released in May 2021 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
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