{"id":1795537,"date":"2026-02-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1795537"},"modified":"2026-02-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T21:00:00","slug":"in-the-fall-off-is-inevitable-j-cole-circles-back-to-the-beginning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1795537","title":{"rendered":"In \u2018The Fall-Off Is Inevitable,\u2019 J. Cole Circles Back to the Beginning"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tfii-j.cole-1.gif\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a gif from a J. Cole music video directed by Ryan Doubiago, depicting a moving shot looping through different eras of the rapper's life, all taking place in the same studio walls. in this shot, the musician is working on creating music in the stuido.\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images courtesy of J. Cole and Ryan Doubiago<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">In \u2018The Fall-Off Is Inevitable,\u2019 J. Cole Circles Back to the Beginning<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-26T15:42:10-06:00\">February 26, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-film\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/film\/\" rel=\"tag\">Film<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/jandres\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Jackie Andres<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F02%2Fthe-fall-off-is-inevitable-ryan-doubigao%2F&amp;title=In%20%26%238216%3BThe%20Fall-Off%20Is%20Inevitable%2C%27%20J.%20Cole%20Circles%20Back%20to%20the%20Beginning\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-pinterest has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F02%2Fthe-fall-off-is-inevitable-ryan-doubigao%2F&amp;description=In%20%26%238216%3BThe%20Fall-Off%20Is%20Inevitable%2C%27%20J.%20Cole%20Circles%20Back%20to%20the%20Beginning&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F02%2Ftfii-j.cole-1.gif\" aria-label=\"Pin\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-GLu5tpnF\" data-rl_title data-rl_caption title><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tPin\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"470346\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The second cut on disc 39 of his most recent double album, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1154762165\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Fall-Off Is Inevitable<\/a>\u201d unfolds J. Cole\u2019s life and professional career through a backward-moving narrative. Directed by Palestinian-American filmmaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canadacanada.com\/directors\/us\/ryan-doubiago\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ryan Doubiago<\/a>, the track\u2019s accompanying music video visually captures the feeling of reminiscence, as the rapper looks back on his journey thus far.<\/p>\n<p>Though each scene takes place within the same studio walls through a looping cycle, viewers move through a multitude of defining moments: a funeral scene, a wedding, writing music in solitude, and rewatching home videos from 1992. Because it\u2019s shot on film, the grain and warm color grading strengthen the through line of nostalgia and memory.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cFor the past 10 years, this album has been hand crafted with one intention: a personal challenge to myself to create my best work,\u201d the musician states in the video\u2019s opening slate. \u201cTo do on my last what I was unable to do on my first.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>At the video\u2019s close, he looks back as a stream of studio equipment floats behind him, tying together a full-circle ending. <em>The Fall-Off<\/em> is Cole\u2019s seventh and final album, and he is evidently taking it all in\u2014down to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackenterprise.com\/j-cole-trunk-sale-tour-26\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">selling CDs<\/a> out of his Honda Civic trunk again, for $1. <\/p>\n<p>Watch more of Ryan Doubiago\u2019s work on <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/doubi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vimeo<\/a>, and keep up with his projects on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/doubidoubz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tfii-j.cole-3.gif\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470346\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tfii-j.cole-3.gif\" alt=\"a gif from a J. Cole music video directed by Ryan Doubiago, depicting a moving shot looping through different eras of the rapper's life, all taking place in the same studio walls. in this shot, a cork and drops of champagne float through the air in a party setting.\" class=\"wp-image-470351\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tfii-j.cole-4-960x641.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470346\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tfii-j.cole-4-960x641.jpg\" alt=\"a still from a J. Cole music video directed by Ryan Doubiago, depicting a moving shot looping through different eras of the rapper's life, all taking place in the same studio walls. in this shot, the artist is reminiscing marriage and a child.\" class=\"wp-image-470353\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tfii-j.cole-2.gif\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470346\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tfii-j.cole-2.gif\" alt=\"a gif from a J. Cole music video directed by Ryan Doubiago, depicting a moving shot looping through different eras of the rapper's life, all taking place in the same studio walls. this shot depicts a worm's eye view of funeral attendees dropping flowers into a void.\" class=\"wp-image-470355\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tfii-j.cole-5-960x641.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470346\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tfii-j.cole-5-960x641.jpg\" alt=\"a still from a J. Cole music video directed by Ryan Doubiago, depicting a moving shot looping through different eras of the rapper's life, all taking place in the same studio walls. in this shot, the musician is reminiscing a childhood home video,\" class=\"wp-image-470354\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/02\/amy-gross-beaded-flora-mushrooms-sculptures\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All images courtesy of J. Cole and Ryan Doubiago In \u2018The Fall-Off Is Inevitable,\u2019 J. Cole Circles Back to the Beginning February 26, 2026 Film Jackie Andres Share Pin Email Bookmark The second cut on disc 39 of his most recent double album, \u201cThe Fall-Off Is Inevitable\u201d unfolds J. Cole\u2019s life and professional career through [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1795537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1795537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1795537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1795537\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1795537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1795537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1795537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}