Key Takeaways:

• The track uses reverse storytelling to explore J. Cole’s life and legacy.
• Its cinematic visual and introspective lyrics sparked major reactions online.
• The Fall-Off drops on Feb. 6 and may be Cole’s final studio album.

J. Cole seemed to reignite Hip Hop single-handedly with the unexpected release of his latest single and visual, “DISK 2 TRACK 2” — as well as the announcement of his long-awaited seventh studio album, The Fall-Off. Instead of pushing it straight to streaming platforms, Cole debuted the track’s music video online, offering fans a reflective experience rich in imagery, wordplay and purpose.

The song opened with a message from the rapper. “For the past 10 years, this album has been hand crafted with one intention: A personal challenge to myself to create my best work,” the caption reads. “To do on my last what I was unable to do on my first.”

Directed by Ryan Doubiago, the visual unfolds like a personal memoir. The layered piano and guitars guide Cole’s verses, which tell the story of the Dreamville star’s life in reverse. Standout bars like “My grandkids carried the coffin to the altar as they burst into tears from their shirts” beautifully add to the dense imagery depicted on wax.

As expected, “DISK 2 TRACK 2” sparked plenty of conversation on social media. “J. Cole is rapping at the highest level of his career 15-plus years in,” wrote music journalist Jeremy Hecht on X. “He kept the same multi-syllable scheme going for an entire song while storytelling the whole time.” Another fan highlighted the lyric, “I watch my father walk back in my life and it clears up a hurt,” calling it “THE most clever way I’ve ever heard a rapper express the pain of their father walking out on them.”

Check out additional reactions below. The Fall-Off is set to arrive on Feb. 6 and is expected to be Cole’s final studio album.