J. Cole is a real perfectionist. In an interview with Slam, he describes what a negative impact it had on his mental health to always strive to write a future classic. Not even one series did he allow himself to finish watching. With “The Off-Season” he finally draws the logical conclusion, shifts down a gear and takes a much-needed break from his higher-than-the-moon ambitions to fully concentrate on what he does best: Rapping.
On the album, the successful rapper finally sounds like he’s having fun doing what he does. To focus more on the rapping and the vibe, he got Ali Ciwanro to the side, who partly takes over the writing.
Even more than ever before Cole tries to do a balancing act between old and new, between BoomBap and Trap, between Gatekeeper and New school. He wants to be the lyrical “real” rapper, but also the one who proves to the new generation that rattling hi-hats and deep bass don’t necessarily have to be without content.
Jermaine, Ali Ciwanro and the rest of the team have produced a really good album.
The tracklist of The Off-Season:
1. 9 5 . s o u t h
2. a m a r i
3. m y . l i f e
4. a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e
5. p u n c h i n ’ . t h e . c l o c k
6. 1 0 0 . m i l
7. p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l
8. l e t . g o . m y . h a n d
9. i n t e r l u d e
10. t h e . c l i m b . b a c k
11. c l o s e
12. h u n g e r . o n . h i l l s i d e
