Listen to J. Cole’s “a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e”: Re-Upped

Welcome to Re-Upped, Audiomack’s new editorial series dedicated to spotlighting the best and hottest new songs across genres and across the globe. For a playlist of all Re-Upped selections, click here. Enjoy the vibes.

J. Cole — “a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e”

Folks, the real is back. Dreamville head honcho J. Cole returns with his sixth studio album, The Off-Season, prefaced by one lone “i n t e r l u d e” single and the previously released “t h e . c l i m b . b a c k.”

Standout track “a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e,” featuring production from Cole himself, boasts some of his most engaged and focused rapping since 4 Your Eyez Only’s “Neighbors.” For fans searching for mixtape Cole’s hunger in his recent work, “a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e” is a return to form from a rapper growing comfortable with the idea of retirement, as he explained in his historic SLAM solo cover.

Donna-Claire Chesman

May 17, 2021