On J. Cole’s refreshing and lively new album, the rapper relaxes his grip around the mic and thrives when he’s collaborating, not when he’s making deadly serious legacy raps. The Off-Season is a much-needed break from the heavy-handed preachiness that made KOD and 4 Your Eyez Only such slogs to get through. He pulls back slightly from the narrative form of writing (sorry, to the “Wet Dreamz” heads but no virginity tales on this one) in favor of more punchlines and wordplay. This switch doesn’t suddenly turn him into a Flint rapper, but it does sound like he’s having fun for once.
| 1 | 95 South |
| 2 | Amari |
| 3 | My Life |
| 4 | Applying Pressure |
| 5 | Punchin' The Clock |
| 6 | 100 Mil' |
| 7 | Pride Is The Devil |
| 8 | Let Go My Hand |
| 9 | Interlude |
| 10 | The Climb Back |
| 11 | Close |
| 12 | Hunger On Hillside |
