Positioned as the emotional anchor of the first disc of The Fall-Off, “Legacy” sees J. Cole stepping back from the “blistering barrage” of the album’s opening tracks to offer a moment of deep contemplation. Produced by Cole alongside T-Minus and Pluss, the song begins as a soulful ballad, driven by a clean, melodic guitar riff and a “sugary sweet” vocal performance from Cole that highlights his growing confidence as a singer. However, the track quickly evolves as a crisp drum pattern kicks in, prompting Cole to shift gears into a rapid-fire flow. Lyrically, he dissects the very concept the song is named after, weighing the importance of industry accolades against the quiet impact of being a father and a community pillar. It’s a versatile standout that perfectly captures the “many sides” of the North Carolina icon as he prepares to leave the game on his own terms.