Might Delete Later Album Review

Might Delete Later Album Review: J Cole Adds Fuel To The Flames On His Surprise Album

By Dylan Barbee

Courtesy of @realcoleworld on Instagram 

Release Date: April 5, 2024

When the rap scene least expected it, J Cole dropped a surprise album just when it needed it most. 

The 12-song project, “Might Delete Later,” was released just two weeks after Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar took shots at J Cole and Drake on the collaboration album “We Don’t Trust You.” Cole’s “Might Delete Later” further fuels the fire, as the Charlotte veteran fills most of the project’s songs with minor disses and decently thought-out responses. 

“Might Delete Later,” begins with a lowkey rap production scheme on songs like “Pricey” (featuring Ari Lennox, Young Dro and Gucci Mane) and “Crocodile Tearz”. J Cole’s lyricism aggressively suggests he yearns to be crowned king of hip-hop’s big three. “Yes, sir, it’s me, not two, not three the uno, G-O-A-T, I need my fee, fuck kudos,” Cole raps on Crocodile Tearz. 

On “Ready ‘24,” Cole maintains the same confident persona, rapping about his impact on rap and the current state of his career. J Cole hints that 2024 is going to be a year of dominance for him, as he continues to tease his upcoming album “The Fall Off,” over an enthusiastic sample within an energetic beat that brings the song's potential to be a summer classic. 

The most memorable songs are the ones where the Dreamville kingpin raps over menacing beats like the ones on “Huntin’ Wabbitz,” and “Trae The Truth in Ibiza." On “Huntin’ Wabbitz,” J Cole includes clever bars like leaving the clip empty like Chick-Fil-A on a Sunday and “word to my palm, bitch, I’m too locked in I hit em’ up, I’m 2Pac twin.” 

In “Might Delete Later,” J Cole reasons that having lived and grown up around street gang beef, he easily can handle this rap beef that everyone has so desperately wanted for years. Although there are memorable songs on this album, the content is redundant as J Cole repeats this narrative without calling out anyone’s name for the first half of the album. He’s pulling his punches.

J Cole is also taking on some other modern styles that just aren’t custom for his respected pen game. Songs like “H.Y.B” featuring Central Cee and Bas sound like the production was designed for Central Cee’s cadence that J Cole adapts to in mediocre fashion after Bas fills in for a generic chorus. “Fever,” begins with a voicemail from a woman asking J Cole to come back to “the Ville” which seems like a stylistic choice taken straight out of Drake’s playbook.

The real conversation amongst listeners is sparked on later songs on the album’s tracklist where J Cole’s disses are more direct. 

“Pi” featuring Daylyt and Ab-Soul is a diss song that I suspect to be targeted at producer Metro Boomin. Although the song is dragged out by the features, J Cole has an entertaining verse, calling out the trap producer’s social media antics. “Is you a demon or is that demeanor for the ‘Gram? Tell us, They plead the fifth, I’m seeing hints of a trans fella, In cancel culture’s vicinity, he’s no killer, trust me Beneath is chosen identity, there is still a pussy, period,” J Cole raps on "Pi."

“7 Minute Drill,” serves as a declaration of war against Kendrick Lamar. The T-Minus and Griselda’s Conductor Williams produced beat allows Cole to tell Kendrick how he feels, disagreeing with the Compton rapper claiming he’s the #1 rapper of the big three. J Cole says Lamar fell off like the popular animated show The Simpsons and critiques the Compton rapper’s discography, saying his second album To Pimp A Butterfly put listeners to sleep but they gassed it anyway and calling his 2022 album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers tragic. These jabs are very questionable and some may argue absurd considering Lamar’s 2015 To Pimp A Butterfly is critically acclaimed and regarded by most music listeners as one of the best hip-hop albums ever. 

This is not the best approach from J Cole because listeners can easily say the same thing about his recent discography additions. Cole’s 2021 The Off-Season was a solid project but I don’t think it has relistening value today. I view Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers the same way; a solid body of work at the time but I rarely revisit it now. On the other hand, I do think J Cole does a great job of making listeners question whether we should still collectively put Lamar on a pedestal or not given he’s only dropped 4 albums in 12 years. 

Throughout the album, J Cole approaches dissing Kendrick Lamar in a manner that shows he respects and acknowledges Lamar’s status and legacy. However, if Kendrick continues to challenge him in a diss battle J Cole will have no choice but to continue to respond.  “Lord, don’t make me have to smoke this n**** ‘cause I fuck with him, But push to come to shove, on this mic, I will humble him,” J Cole raps on “7 Minute Drill.”

I think “7 Minute Drill” could’ve done a better job as a diss song but it's clear that this track is more a warning shot to Kendrick rather than a full-on diss. I feel like J Cole could’ve gone further and is throwing Lamar some bait to see if he latches onto the hook. 

Lyrically, J Cole returns to top-notch performance on “Might Delete Later,” and he opens the door to many opportunities within the hip-hop community depending on who responds to his questionable disses. 

J Cole has left hip-hop in a place of optimism and listeners with many questions. Will Kendrick Lamar ever respond to J Cole’s disses? Should we continue to view Kendrick Lamar so highly even though he rarely drops? Is this beef legitimate? And will Drake have a response of his own soon considering Kendrick Lamar’s “Like That” disses were aimed at Drake, and Cole got caught in the crossfire?

Whatever happens, hip-hop fans are currently receiving what they have been asking for and debating about for the past decade; some of hip-hop’s best artists going at it bar for bar. Although everyone is going to pick a side,it’s essential that we all appreciate these artists for their craft and enjoy the moment we are currently experiencing in the genre that desperately needs to be revived. 

Rating: 7.3/10