Live Review
It’s hard to describe what it means when an artist “falls off.” It generally signifies when their content is no longer at its peak level of quality, or maybe when their fanbase has dwindled to a much lower amount. However, after witnessing J. Cole’s “The Fall-Off” Tour opening night in Charlotte, it’s obvious that none of these terms apply to him, and he is still at the top of the rap game with a loyal, large, and hungry fanbase.
Cole, the Fayetteville, N.C based artist, is headlining his new tour and began with a packed concert at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Born Jermaine Cole, the Grammy-winning artist has taken hold of the music industry with classic albums such as 2014 Forest Hills Drive and his latest project that shares the name of the tour, The Fall-Off.
The sold-out show, being the first night of the tour, was met with a lot of anticipation. Fans, myself included, did not know what to expect when those lights dimmed in the arena. To the surprise of many, Cole came out of the crowd in Section 115 and sat down with fans to begin his opening track, “39 Intro.” He made his way through the crowd performing “Two Six” and eventually ended up on the stage with the song “Safety” being performed.
The stage was a unique setup featuring a building modeled after Fayetteville’s Market House and his old car, a Honda Civic. Cole paced his way through the set while vertical lights surrounded him. It was one of the more extravagant stage setups that artists have used, and it perfectly coincides with Cole’s star power and level of influence.
Fans were equally impressed with the songs that Cole chose to perform. Besides new songs from The Fall-Off such as “WHO TF IZ U,” Cole also performed fan favorites such as “A Tale of 2 Cities,” “MIDDLE CHILD,” and “Power Trip.”
Cole has clearly shown over the years that he has deserved and earned his spot at the top of hip-hop’s echelon. The Fall-Off is another great addition to his discography, and the tour of the same name gives fans exactly what they need. The artist has clearly not fallen off anyone’s top lists, and many fans eagerly await whether he will deliver more new music. For now, fans will await his shows across the world and expect just as good a show as he put on in Charlotte.
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