Beloved and influential rapper J. Cole announced a new album earlier this afternoon – his first since 2018’s KOD. The album, called The Off-Season, will be available on May 14. That’s just a week from Friday, so we don’t have to wait long to hear what the rapper has been up to in the time since KOD. Those years have seen lots of political and social action – a riot at the Capitol, major protests for Black lives, and a global pandemic, to mention just a few key events. J. Cole often blends the personal and political in his music, so we can look forward to hearing his take on a time so filled with potential inspiration.

Just know this was years in the making.

My new album The Off-Season available everywhere 5/14 pic.twitter.com/aBw4po8fvx

— J. Cole (@JColeNC) May 4, 2021

There’s another reason to look forward to the release, too: on Twitter, the rapper stated, “Just know that this was years in the making.” From a rapper who has given us some of the most influential rap records of recent years, such a large time investment probably indicates incredible returns. The Off-Season will come out on the 14th anniversary of J. Cole’s debut mixtape, The Come Up, in a nostalgic nod to the rapper’s growth over the years. Today, he’s co-founder of Dreamville Records and one of rap’s most central voices.