On May 4, 2021 Jermaine Lamarr Cole, or J Cole announced on Twitter that he would be releasing his 6th album, titled “The Off-Season” that would come out on May 14. In the tweet, he said “Just know that this was years in the making. My new album The Off-Season available everywhere May 14.” Accompanied with the tweet was an image of Cole standing with a basketball hoop burning behind him, which many presume to be the cover for the album. Then, on May 7, one week before the release of “The Off-Season”, J Cole dropped a new single, titled “I n t e r l  u d e.” Although it is uncertain whether or not “I n t e r l u d e” will be on “The Off-Season”, Cole announced the release of the song on Twitter saying “Told myself I would drop the album all at once. Sometimes you gotta say f*** it tho.”

Junior Carlos Nemeh is excited about Cole’s new album, “I don’t listen to him much but I’m excited to see what he comes out with.” Cole, who hasn’t released an album since KOD, which came out three years ago, has not been in the spotlight recently. Although he hasn’t been in the media recently, he’s still a popular rapper, with 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify. 

Junior Dante Arminio is excited for “The Off-Season,” saying “I’m pretty hyped for the new album to come out.” Due to his success over the years, J Cole has high expectations for his new album. Cole, who won Rap Song of the Year in 2019 with his song “A Lot” with 21 Savage, has 12 Grammy nominations and 1 Grammy win, has many excited for what “The Off-Season” will sound like.