J. Cole Says He Might Not Retire After All
Elena holds a Bachelor's in Arts Administration from Columbia College Chicago and has spent the last 4 years covering the vibrant arts scene in Central Illinois. She believes in the power of storytelling through the arts and frequently writes about local artists and cultural events.
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Cole is keeping his musical future open after previously planning to step away from recording. The rapper also revisited his 2024 disagreement with Kendrick Lamar, explaining why he chose not to continue their public exchange. During an October 28 conversation in Las Vegas with longtime manager Mark Pitts and GQ s Frazier Tharpe, Cole revealed that his February 2026 album, The Fall-Off, was originally intended to be his final project. However, completing the album and experiencing the success of his sold-out arena tour led him to reconsider retirement. Cole also addressed his brief involvement in the conflict with Lamar. He explained that responding to Kendrick was difficult because the two had previously worked together on material intended for The Fall-Off. In April 2024, Cole released 7 Minute Drill, a track aimed at Lamar. Days later, he publicly apologized during Dreamville Festival and eventually removed the song from streaming platforms. Although Cole has not announced another a