New Rory & MAL – Episode 442 | “The Fall Off” (January 15, 2026)

Podcast Theme:
The episode is centered on J. Cole’s announcement of his long-awaited album, The Fall Off, discussing the album’s themes, rollout, possible features, rap beef context, fan anticipation, and initial reactions to new music snippets and visuals. The crew (Rory, Mal, Peach Josh, and Baby D) dissect the significance of the drop, J. Cole’s place in hip-hop, fan expectations post-beef, and what makes this release pivotal.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. J. Cole’s “The Fall Off” Announcement

• The Fall Off is officially dropping February 6, 2026, after lengthy rumors and delays (03:03).
• Cole teased the album with a visual snippet, amping up excitement but withholding full tracks.

Quote:

“As of January 14, he announces that on February 6, we will be getting The Fall Off. He dropped a teaser with a little snippet in there, cut it off right before he started rapping. I’m excited, man.”
—Rory (01:38)

• The crew jokes about the hype and purchasing the $50 vinyl, calling out fan dedication (Damaris/“Baby D” bought a copy from her hospital bed).

2. Expectations & Rumors About Features

• Rumored features included artists who had ‘fallen off’ from their peak—Cam’ron, Waka Flocka, and speculation surrounding a Kendrick Lamar feature.
• The hosts debate whether Cole will go platinum with no features again or bring in guests (06:56).

Quote:

“While I think there’s a Kendrick feature on here, I think that may be the only feature, or there’s zero features. I’m starting to change my mind as the time goes, and I think there may be zero features.”
—Rory (06:56)

3. Cole’s Recent Rap Beef & Its Artistic Fallout

• Big focus on Cole’s response (or lack thereof) in his beef with Kendrick Lamar and Drake, specifically his “might delete later” track and on-stage apology.
• Peach Josh questions the optics of including Kendrick as a feature after previous tension.

Quote:

“You think that that wouldn’t be crazy? Everything, the optics, everything that’s happened... You don’t think that’s crazy?”
—Peach Josh (07:48)

• Rory argues for creative freedom and real-life complexity in reconciling after beef.

4. Can J. Cole Still “Talk Greasy”?

• The crew debates whether Cole can credibly claim he’s the top rapper post-beef.
• Peach Josh asserts that after apologizing and bowing out, Cole can’t return to boastful, adversarial bars.

Quote:

“I’m just saying you can’t be talking the way you were talking before the beef... you can’t apologize when a rapper calls you out...and then get back to talking like you wanna fade on the next album.”
—Peach Josh (13:09)

• Rory counters that the album’s concept allows for self-referential, even contradictory, content.

5. Anticipated Themes: Reflection vs. Beef

• The hosts want a more reflective Cole album, addressing his career longevity, close calls with irrelevance, and personal growth.
• Less emphasis hoped for direct continuation of the rap beef—Rory: “I think he’s going to address it once on the album…Then move on.” (12:10)

Quote:

“By choice, we’re not retiring Cole. Cole would retire himself. I’d like a reflective album, especially after the last few years, but the last 15 years.”
—Rory (19:57)

6. Fan Loyalty & Nostalgia

• Jokes about fans giving Cole a “pass” for anything due to emotional attachment since college days (15:17).
• Baby D, recovering from surgery, claims the album is a literal motivation to heal:

“I literally had nothing to live for, and then boom, something for. Like, this is amazing.” (26:22)

7. Predictions: Album Structure & Sound

• Debates about possible double-disc format after seeing “disc two, track two” in the snippet (47:22).
• Desire for a “bop”—a true hit single among introspective tracks (22:00, 52:49).
• Feature wishlist: JID, 21 Savage (Baby D’s pick, but unlikely per Rory); skepticism about Dreamville crew or Freddie Gibbs involvement (32:19–34:43).

8. First Reactions to New Snippet & Visuals

• The crew watches Cole’s new video drop in real time, noting its “Nas ‘Rewind’ angle”—the narrative moves backward from now to early in Cole’s life (45:01).
• Uncertainty about which songs will make the album and which are just for rollout.
• Peach Josh critiques Cole’s confidence if he returns to battle-related bars:

“I cannot listen to J. Cole say he’s the Unibrow Unabomber. Like, I can’t hear that confidence. I don’t believe you.” (48:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On J. Cole’s announcement & excitement:
  “I’m very excited that we’re finally getting The Fall Off… I liked the concept of this album… two more weeks.” (02:50)
• On fan dedication:
  “She couldn’t wait to get healthy to buy a vinyl. We don’t even offer health insurance here.” (01:46),
  “With shipping and handling, somewhere around $70. So that’s like two meals I can’t eat this month. But it’s fine. I don’t care.” —Baby D (28:18)
• On whether the Kendrick feature post-beef is “crazy”:
  “Why would it be weird for them to continue to work on music? Yo, hey, I was wrong.” (08:51)
• On post-beef credibility:
  “It better be a lot of ‘Love Yours’ on here. It better be 14 tracks of ‘Love Yours’… You can’t be talking the way you were talking before the beef.” (13:02)
• On Cole's reflective side:
  “I want him to reflect on everything that has happened. This is the type of Cole I would like at this time.” (18:56)
• On the Nas “Rewind” homage in Cole’s video:
  “I love the Nas rewind that he’s on… we’re literally reversing from The Fall Off to the first project. I don’t think that song is going to be on the album, by the way… a cool way to do the rollout.” (45:01)
• On possible album format:
  “So is this a double disc?... Big risk. I like the confidence, Cole.” (47:26)
• Peach Josh’s skepticism:
  “But you can’t end that with uni Unibrow, Unabomber equipped with armor. What armor you was equipped with? Who did you bomb on?” (53:23)
• On hip-hop fun and music mattering most:
  “If that J. Cole and Kendrick song is incredible, hypothetically, yeah, no one’s going to care… If your music is good, nobody gives a fuck.” (17:35)

Featured Guest: Baby D Check-In

Timestamps: 25:55–40:11, 59:29+

• Reports from bed rest, literally praying for something to get excited about, finds it in the J. Cole announcement.
• Buys the vinyl despite “two meals I can’t eat”; brands Feb 6 as new Valentine’s Day for Cole fans.
• Offers feature hopes, jokes about not being able to do anything “important” until bed rest ends (28:43), and shares what it’s like being a stan on social media.

Fan Dynamics, Loyalty Jokes, and Social Media

• Mocking male fans for getting overexcited (“you cannot scream as a grown man” —35:57).
• The crew exposes playful bias and nostalgia that color all their J. Cole takes (“He can’t do wrong because y’all was doing your laundry listening to him,” 15:17).
• Baby D details what it’s like to be on social from the hospital, poking fun at the “clipping” culture around hot takes (36:29).

Final Segment: Real-Time Reaction to Cole’s Visual

Timestamps: 45:01–59:06

• Live first experience with Cole’s “Rewind”-inspired video.
• Debates fly about whether various teases and tracks are on the album, if it’s a double disc, and whether Cole’s “Unibrow Unabomber” confidence is earned after the beef saga.
• Some hosts see deeper Cole stanning and reference knowledge as key to “getting” the artistic choice.

Quote:

“I feel like a kid again. I miss hip hop. Hip hop used to be fun… I’m gonna listen to this 30 times tonight.”
—Rory Mall (54:44)

Episode Vibe & Tone

• Conversational, playful, thick with inside jokes and light self-deprecation.
• Heavy on hip-hop culture, nostalgia, and scrutiny of “authenticity” post-rap beef.
• Jokes and side convos keep the energy casual—while grounding in serious music critique.

Summary Table of Key Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Highlight | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:38 | J. Cole’s The Fall Off officially announced | | 06:56 | Rumors & speculation re: features and album composition | | 12:22–13:09 | Debate: Can Cole still “talk greasy”? | | 19:57 | Calls for a “reflective” Cole album | | 22:00+ | Predicting a “bop” on the album | | 26:22 | Baby D on album as her healing motivation | | 28:18 | Ordered the vinyl despite bedrest & cost | | 45:01 | Real-time reaction to Cole’s Nas “Rewind” homage video | | 47:22 | Speculation: Is this a double-disc album? | | 54:44 | Rory on nostalgia & excitement for hip-hop | | 36:29+ | Social media & hip-hop stan culture |

For those who haven’t listened:
This episode distills fan anticipation, nuanced expectations, and high-level debates among hip-hop heads as J. Cole sets the stage for The Fall Off. From heartfelt stanning to critical questions about authenticity and beef, the crew covers it all—delivering excitement, skepticism, camaraderie, and the messy love that comes with being a true rap fan when history’s being made in real time.