North Carolina rapper J Cole has surprised fans with the announcement of his fifth studio album, titled KOD- due out this Friday.
The announcement came following an intimate free show in New York, during which he played all 12 songs off the new project for the lucky audience in attendance. The surprise show came with the banning of phones, bags, cameras, and journalists, at the Big Apple’s Grammercy Theatre.
NYC. Come through. Couple hours from now. First come first serve. pic.twitter.com/Z71I9iRnnu
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) April 16, 2018
Cole later confirmed the news of the new album to the rest of his followers on Twitter.
New album. KOD 4/20
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) April 17, 2018
Following the show, Rap Radar’s B.Dot gave some insight into the show itself, as well as general info on the album, and the potential sound of Cole’s fifth LP.
B.Dot revealed that KOD actually stands for three different things (‘Kidz On Drugz’, ‘King Overdose’ and ‘Kill Our Demonz’), B.Dot also shared that the album was recorded in just two weeks and, features the ‘standout’ track ‘1985’, and as a whole sees the rapper “experimenting with flow.”
new #jcole album title: k.o.d.
three different subtitles (kidz on drugz, king overdose, kill our demonz)
recorded in two weeks.
— brian b.dot™ miller (@bdotTM) April 17, 2018
cole played the entire album. about 12 songs.
experimenting with flow.
standout tracks were the intro and last song, “1985”. no word on release date. but it’s coming.
— brian b.dot™ miller (@bdotTM) April 17, 2018
KOD will follow 4 Your Eyez Only, which dropped at the end of 2016. Cole will also be returning to UK shores this summer, performing at Finsbury Park as part of the Wireless Festival. The festival will take place from July 6-8, and Cole will be supported on the bill by the likes of Post Malone, Wiley, and Big Sean. The festival will be closed by DJ Khaled, who will be making his debut on a UK stage, likely supported by a host of his friends and collaborators. Tickets are available now and can be purchased here.
