J. Cole’s new album, The Off-Season, is aptly-titled, because he is not playing. After announcing last week that his project would be available on May 14, the Fayetteville, North Carolina MC/producer has wasted no time re-establishing he is one of the greatest rappers of his generation.

J. Cole’s New Album Is Coming Next Week. Here’s The 1st Song

On Monday (May 10), he unveiled his Applying Pressure documentary, a short film in which Cole chronicled the mind state he channeled while making The Off-Season. Comparing his artistic journey to the development of an NBA player, Cole explained that players make their major improvements outside of the season. In order to push himself to new levels, he went back to many of the practices he developed when making The Warm Up, the mixtape which launched his career.

J. Cole’s New Album Is Coming Next Week. Here’s The 1st Song

Now, Cole serves up a freestyle, courtesy of the LA Leakers, and with a running time of just over 4 minutes, it stands as arguably the best of 2021, so far. As he has done with many of his guest appearances on records over the last couple of years, Cole shows up with a chip on his shoulder. Straight out of the gate, over the beat of Souls of Mischief’s “93 ’til Infinity,” J. Cole raps “Rest assured the best is here in the flesh / And that’s for sure / The rest should wear ’em a vest / I’m set for war, ni**a, press record.” Later, he minces no words about feeling under-appreciated, as he raps “This is chess, better check your board / Who gave the world more fire but got less reward?”

Buh, buh, buh wait…it get worse. After a brief pause, Cole unleashes an entirely different fast flow over Mike Jones’ “Still Tippin’.” It’s in this verse where he gets hardcore about what he believes his place to be in Hip-Hop. “Ain’t got no time or no patience for lists they be makin’ / Or who they debatin’ is better / Let’s face it, he one of the greatest / No Bill Cosby sh*t / But if ni**as is sleepin’, then f*ck ’em.”

Hear New Music From Busta, De La, Pharoahe & More Courtesy Of Khrysis

Following the release of “interlude,” the first taste of The Off-Season, Cole’s L.A. Leakers verse goes from 0 to 100…real quick. And, it’s clear he is making his case he should be compared with Drake, Kendrick Lamar and every other MC vying to be crowned the GOAT of his generation.

Check out J. Cole’s “interlude,” new music from MF DOOM and much more on the always updated AFH Spotify playlist.