J. Cole Makes Surprise Stop at Howard University During DMV Visit for The Fall-Off

WASHINGTON, D.C. — February 12, 2026

Hip-hop superstar J. Cole brought excitement to the District this week with a surprise appearance at Howard University, drawing large crowds of students and fans as part of his grassroots rollout for his newly released album, The Fall-Off.

Videos circulating online showed hundreds gathering on Howard’s campus Wednesday as the Grammy-winning artist made an unannounced stop, continuing his unconventional promotional tour focused on direct engagement with fans and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Released on February 6 through Dreamville and Interscope Records, The Fall-Off is a 24-track double album widely described by Cole as a defining moment in his career and potentially his final full-length project. The album reflects two stages of his life and features collaborations with artists including Tems, Erykah Badu, Burna Boy, and Future.

Instead of a traditional media-heavy rollout, Cole has taken a “boots-on-the-ground” approach, traveling campus-to-campus and reconnecting with the communities that supported him early in his career. The DMV stop followed visits to HBCUs across the South and Virginia.

While in the region, the artist also surprised local fans in Silver Spring, Maryland, offering intimate listening experiences by personally picking up small groups for car rides to hear the album. Fans described the moments as unforgettable, highlighting Cole’s continued emphasis on authenticity and personal connection.

The visit marks a major cultural moment for the District, reinforcing Howard University’s role as a national hub for Black culture and creative influence. For many students, the surprise appearance felt less like a promotional stop and more like a full-circle tribute to the college communities that helped shape hip-hop’s cultural foundation.

With The Fall-Off already projected to debut strongly and Cole signaling a shift toward producing rather than future album releases, the artist’s DMV visit may represent one of the final chapters in a career defined by independence, storytelling, and deep community ties.

As the city continues to buzz from the surprise appearance, one thing is clear: even without a stage, J. Cole knows how to turn a campus moment into a cultural event.