What If Lyrics – J. Cole

Read the full lyrics of “What If” by J. Cole from the album The Fall-Off. Here, we have shared the complete “What If” Lyrics along with its music video, deeper meaning and song credits.

J. Cole’s long-awaited double album The Fall-Off, officially arriving February 6, 2026, has ignited fresh interest in a song buried deep in its second disc called “What If”. Coming from the Fayetteville-born rapper, producer, and Dreamville Records co-founder, “What If” is poised to be one of the most talked-about tracks on what many are already calling possibly his most introspective work yet. The Fall-Off itself is framed as a double LP with 24 tracks and is being widely discussed as a culmination of Cole’s artistic arc, potentially his final studio album after years of hints stretching back to his 2018 KOD closing track 1985 (Intro to The Fall Off).

Although official statements about “What If” specifically are limited in the press, its placement nineth on Disc 39 of The Fall-Off’s tracklist suggests it sits at a narrative center of the second half of the album, which Cole has described as a reflective return to his roots, personality, and legacy in hip hop. Unlike his previously released loosely attached songs like Port Antonio or cLOUDs, which tackled competition, reputation and societal issues with dreamy production and direct lyrical punch, “What If” seems likely to delve into the questions that keep a seasoned artist awake: alternatives, regrets, imagination and legacy at the twilight of a storied career.

J. Cole, born Jermaine Lamarr Cole, has built his reputation on lyrical honesty and philosophical depth, famously weaving personal narrative with larger cultural critique. Past work such as 2014’s Forest Hills Drive and 2021’s The Off-Season showcased his ability to balance vulnerability and bravado, turning internal conflict into universally resonant lines. The Fall-Off, executive produced by Cole with longtime collaborator Ibrahim Ib Hamad and trusted producers like T-Minus, is widely understood to push that boundary further, touching on themes of aging, relevance, fatherhood, and the complicated blessings of success.

“What If”, in context, seems primed to act as a thematic pivot – a moment where Cole doesn’t just recount what has been, but imagines alternate lives and choices, standing at the crossroads of introspection and aspiration. Musically, The Fall-Off traverses gritty boom-bap, soul-infused hip hop, and modern melodic rap textures, suggesting that “What If” could be a bridge between old school craftsmanship and contemporary soundscapes. Dreamville and Interscope Records are distributing the project, with most songs expected to be in English and rooted firmly in hip-hop.

Though features on the album haven’t been officially confirmed, the absence of outside voices on the tracklist so far indicates Cole may be more inclined toward a deeply solo narrative form, much like his classic albums. Trivia around the project shows that Cole began teasing The Fall-Off almost a decade ago, making it one of the most patient and meticulously crafted rollouts in hip-hop history. If “What If” is any indication, this will not be just another song – it will be a lyrical mirror held up to a career defined by relentless self-examination and unflinching truth telling.

Fans and critics alike are already dissecting the track’s position within the story arc of The Fall-Off, anticipating that when “What If” drops with the full album, it will deliver exactly the kind of introspective heat that has made J. Cole one of the defining voices of his generation.