J. Cole Hints at New Music and Future Plans After 2014 Forest Hills Drive Anniversary Concert
J. Cole delighted fans on December 17 with a special one-night concert celebrating the tenth anniversary of his classic album 2014 Forest Hills Drive. The event marked the conclusion of a reflective period for the rapper, during which he revisited the first few albums and mixtapes of his career. Over the course of the year, Cole had given fans a deeper look into his creative journey through the podcast Inevitable and even made his first three mixtapes available on streaming platforms for the first time.
During the concert, Cole performed a setlist packed with fan favorites, deep cuts, and his biggest hits, creating an unforgettable experience for his dedicated followers. However, the most exciting moment came toward the end of the show when the rapper hinted at what’s next for his career. As the night drew to a close, Cole teased his fans about the upcoming Dreamville Fest, which will take place in April 2025. “See y’all at Dreamville Fest,” he told the crowd. “Hopefully I have something new to perform for y’all.” This statement left fans buzzing, as it suggests that J. Cole may release new music before the festival, which would take place in the first quarter of 2025.
This revelation, while thrilling, isn’t entirely unexpected. J. Cole has spent much of 2024 reflecting on his career and legacy. Following the aftermath of the “Big Three” battle, Cole took a step back to focus on his artistic journey and his future in the industry. Fans have been anticipating The Fall Off for years, ever since Cole first mentioned the album back in 2018, when he released the track “1985 (Intro to The Fall Off)” as part of his KOD album. The album has been teased as his final project, with Cole even declaring it would mark the end of an era for his musical career.
In February 2024, J. Cole revealed that The Fall Off was nearly complete. During the Tampa stop on the It’s All a Blur tour, Cole told the crowd that he was in the final stages of working on the album, which he had been working on for some time. “Right now, I’m at the tail-end of working on this album,” he explained. “I’ve been working on it for a long time. It’s called The Fall Off.” This added fuel to the fire of anticipation, and it was further validated when Drake—whose relationship with Cole has fluctuated in recent years—chimed in, calling the album a classic before it was even released. It was a surprising endorsement from Drizzy, given their past tensions, but it only added to the excitement around The Fall Off.
With J. Cole hinting at new music and the impending release of The Fall Off, fans can expect an exciting year ahead. As 2025 approaches, the rapper’s plans for the Dreamville Fest and the possibility of a new project during the first quarter of the year has left fans eagerly awaiting what’s next. After a decade of iconic albums and groundbreaking moments in hip hop, The Fall Off could very well be the final chapter in one of the most celebrated careers in modern rap. For now, fans are left to savor the legacy of 2014 Forest Hills Drive and look forward to what could be a groundbreaking conclusion to J. Cole’s discography.
