J. Cole spent years building anticipation for The Fall-Off, so it’s no surprise that the conversations surrounding the album are passionate, detailed, and often divided. But according to Dreamville cofounder and Cole’s longtime manager, Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad, some of that discourse is missing the point.
Taking to Twitter on Saturday, February 21, Ib shared his frustration with how quickly fans turn new releases into competition rather than celebration. He suggested that many debates — especially those comparing The Fall-Off to other recent albums like Baby Keem’s Ca$ino — focus more on tearing artists down than appreciating the quality of the music itself.
Enjoy hip hop man, stop tryna scrutinize everything and listen as some sort of critic. Enjoy that Cole, Keem, Rocky and Don Tolliver gave yall music at a high level and stop making everything about how can we tear people down. Our genre and culture will never progress that way.
— Ibrahim H. (@KingOfQueenz) February 21, 2026
“Enjoy hip hop man, stop tryna scrutinize everything and listen as some sort of critic,” he wrote. “Enjoy that Cole, Keem, [A$AP] Rocky and Don Toliver gave yall music at a high level and stop making everything about how can we tear people down. Our genre and culture will never progress that way.”
The mention of Keem naturally caught attention, given J. Cole’s complicated history with Keem’s cousin, Kendrick Lamar. But Ib’s message was clear: the “us vs. them” mentality is poisoning the culture, even if it’s mostly fans expressing opinions online.
His comments also align with the grassroots, fan‑focused rollout behind The Fall-Off. Cole and the Dreamville team have been traveling from city to city, meeting fans, selling CDs out of the trunk, and creating intimate moments that feel far removed from the typical album‑release machine.
Go outside. See the people. Connect with them and have conversations. It’s beautiful out here 🙏🏿
— Ibrahim H. (@KingOfQueenz) February 21, 2026
With a full Cole world tour on the horizon, fans are wondering how long the “Trunk Sale” stops will continue and which cities might get a visit next. Ib’s hope is simple: that people take a breath, enjoy the music, and stop treating every release like a battleground.
Everyone’s a critic — but everyone deserves to enjoy the moment, too.
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