As the buzz for the up-and-coming rapper J. Cole’s debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story heats up, so have sensational rumors surrounding the young rapper’s personal life. At center is an alleged sex tape with pop star Rihanna and a rift with his Roc Nation mentor Jay-Z. Taking a break from promoting his much-anticipated album, Cole recently sat down with MTV2’s “Sucker Free” to address the persistent attention from the rumor mill.
“I just let ’em talk. They also say I’ve got a sex tape [with Rihanna] and they say I got dropped from Roc Nation,” joked Cole. “It’s been a hell of a two weeks. They put a picture of one of my fans on the Internet and said it was my girlfriend … I figured out, now that I’m on the other side [of the rumor mill], it’s just so random. It doesn’t start from no where, it’s just like tabloids back in the day. People get paid, they making their money off of making up kind of outlandish stories. ‘Jay-Z said he gon’ beat J. Cole up when he sees him … ‘ And it’s always a very reliable source [saying it].”
Though Cole admits that he’s impressed with the staying power of the rumors, especially the sex tape one, he vents that it’s a bit of an annoyance when those around him begin to believe the sensational claims.
“That’s a genius rumor [the sex tape with Rihanna], ‘cus that’s still sticking, and it’s two weeks later almost,” said Cole. “It’s an annoying compliment. The fact that they’re even talking and I don’t have no album out and I’m making the little … gossip sites [is cool], but I stay getting texts from people saying, ‘Oh man, you good? You all right? I heard you got dropped. Keep your head up, fam.'”
Tabloid annoyances aside, Cole has a lot to be happy about. On Wednesday, Sept. 14, Young Simba released a video for his second Cole World single, “Can’t Get Enough,” which features a hook from singer Trey Songz and a cool cameo from his “sex tape” scandal partner, Rihanna. And further proving that things are harmonious between him and Hov, Cole also released his long-awaited collaboration with Jay-Z, “Mr. Nice Watch,” which is inspired by a line from Jay’s 1997 song “A Million and One Questions.”
Cole’s Cole World: The Sideline Story hits stores on Sept. 27. –nicholas robinson
