Particle.news
Download on the App Store

J. Cole Drops ‘Birthday Blizzard ’26’ Freestyles Ahead of ‘The Fall‑Off

The pay‑what‑you‑want release acts as a sharpened reset that recasts his 2024 Kendrick apology as motivation before his Feb. 6 album.

Overview

  • Available exclusively on thefalloff.com for a minimum of $1, the DJ Clue–hosted set is not on streaming services.
  • The package features four freestyles — “Bronx Zoo,” “Golden Goose,” “Winter Storm,” and “99 Build” — performed over classic ’90s/2000s instrumentals including Diddy’s “Victory,” Biggie’s “Who Shot Ya?,” The LOX’s “Money, Power & Respect,” and Black Rob’s “Can I Live.”
  • On “Bronx Zoo Freestyle,” Cole addresses his 2024 apology to Kendrick Lamar and stepping back from that feud, rapping that he’s “probably [his] best when they doubt” him.
  • Across the tracks, he critiques industry practices with lines referencing ownership, ghostwriting, stream “bots,” tour struggles, and Universal Music Group chief Lucian Grainge.
  • Fans are parsing bars for possible shots at peers like Drake and Joey Bada$$, though any targeted disses remain unconfirmed, and Cole later said on Instagram that The Fall‑Off became a double album after inspiration from the KendrickDrake battle.