One of the most daring and discussed moments on J. Cole’s final double album The Fall-Off, released on February 6, 2026, is the conceptual masterpiece “What If.” Produced by Beat Butcha and TaeBeast, the track features an atmospheric, piano-led beat that serves as the backdrop for a historic “peace summit.” Cole masterfully embodies both late hip-hop titans, using the first verse to rap from the perspective of The Notorious B.I.G. reaching out to 2Pac to de-escalate their feud. In the second half, he flips the perspective to 2Pac, who responds with a vulnerable apology for the violence fueled by “ego, vengeance, and dollar signs.” Beyond the technical brilliance of mimicking their iconic flows, the song acts as a profound allegory for Cole’s own journey through the “Big Three” civil war, presenting a heartfelt plea for brotherhood over rap supremacy.
