J. Cole surprised students at North Carolina A&T State University, the largest HBCU in the country, with a special appearance on campus on Saturday. The rapper came to campus to promote his latest album, The Fall-Off, in a full-circle moment. He shared that the first physical copy of his music was sold on the HBCU’s campus when he was starting out.

J. Cole surprised students at North Carolina A&T State University

The rapper stopped by campus just one day after the release of The Fall-Off. He announced that he would be coming to campus on social media and shared what this stop means to him as an artist. At the beginning of his music career, J. Cole sold physical copies of his debut project, The Come Up, for $1 out of the trunk of his car. On Saturday, he decided to drive up to campus in his old Honda Civic with copies of his albums available for sale.

“NC A&T. First time I ever sold a physical version of my own full project was on your campus during Homecoming.  We sold The Come Up for $1 out the trunk of this car,” he wrote on X. “I’m bout to drive to Greensboro right now to see if I can sell a couple copies of The Fall-Off tonight.  Full circle !!!”

Hundreds of students were on campus for J. Cole’s arrival, according to WFMY News 2. He signed copies of the album upon arrival.

“Mannnnn. Thank yall for the love.  For real!!!” he added in another post on X. “Yesterday I had daddy duties that came before album release celebrations. Today I got my old civic (with the brand new engine) a tour bus and some sprinters. In the trunk of my car is boxes of The Fall-Off CD’s. As a teenager I had copies of the Fayettenam Bommuh’s album that Nervous gave me to sell. I used to go up to the gas stations trying to sell the album to strangers  ‘yo you like hip hop??’ Was the beginning of the sales pitch.”

J. Cole shared how meaningful it was for him to go back to where he started.

“When I was working on this album I had the desire to go feel that feeling again, and that’s what I’m about to do. Trunk Sale Tour 26!!” he added. “I don’t know where we bout to drive to, but catch me outside! Cop a CD from me or just show love. I truly appreciate all the love and the reaction to the music.”

Is ‘The Fall-Off’ J.Cole’s final album?

Following the Friday release of The Fall-Off, J. Cole hinted at it being his last album.

“The Fall Off, a double album made with intentions to be my last, brings the concept of my first project full circle. Disc 29 tells a story of me returning to my hometown at age 29,” he wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

“A decade after moving to New York, accomplishing what would have seemed impossible to most, I was at a crossroads with the three loves of my life: my woman, my craft, and my city,” he added. “Disc 39 gives insight into my mindset during a similar trip home, this time as a 39-year-old man. Older and a little closer to peace.”

The Fall-Off features 24 songs and features from Future, Burna Boy and Tems.

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