J. Cole Scores Seventh No. 1 Album on the Billboard 200 With The Fall-Off

The North Carolina rapper's latest album tops the chart with 280,000 equivalent album units sold in its first week.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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J. Cole's double-disc album The Fall-Off has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 280,000 equivalent album units in its first week. This marks the rapper's seventh No. 1 album, cementing his status as one of the top hip-hop artists of the moment.

Why it matters

J. Cole is one of the most commercially successful rappers of the past decade, with a string of No. 1 albums that showcase his ability to connect with a wide audience. The strong debut of The Fall-Off reinforces his standing in the industry and highlights the continued popularity of hip-hop music.

The details

The Fall-Off earned 280,000 equivalent album units, with 113,000 of those being pure album sales. This is the largest sales week for a hip-hop album since Playboi Carti's MUSIC debuted at No. 1 with 298,000 units last March. Five of Cole's previous albums have also hit No. 1 during their debut weeks, including Cole World: The Sideline Story, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, 4 Your Eyez Only, KOD, and The Off-Season.

  • The Fall-Off was released on February 6, 2026.
  • Billboard reported the album's No. 1 debut on February 15, 2026.

The players

J. Cole

A popular American rapper and record producer who has achieved widespread commercial success, with seven No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart.

Playboi Carti

An American rapper whose album MUSIC debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in March 2025 with 298,000 equivalent album units, the largest sales week for a hip-hop album since then.

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What’s next

J. Cole will continue his Trunk Sale Tour '26 this week, selling CDs out of the trunk of his old Honda Civic in various cities.

The takeaway

J. Cole's ability to consistently deliver chart-topping albums highlights his status as one of the premier rappers in the music industry today. The strong debut of The Fall-Off demonstrates the continued popularity of hip-hop music and Cole's ability to connect with a wide audience.