Add J. Cole to the list of rappers who sing it and then take it back: Mr. Cole has apologized to people with autism and their families for a song with an offensive reference to autism, The Associated Press reported.
Mr. Cole wrote in a recent blog post that while he does not agree with rappers forced to make such amends, he offered a “sincere apology†for his words in Drake’s “Jodeci Freestyle.†In that song, Mr. Cole raps that he’s “artistic†while his rivals are “autistic, retarded.â€
“To the parents who are fighting through the frustrations that must come with raising a child with severe autism, finding strength and patience that they never knew they had; to the college student with Asperger’s syndrome; to all those overcoming autism,†Mr. Cole wrote. “You deserve medals, not disrespect. I hope you accept my sincere apology.â€
Still, Mr. Cole added, his music is “going to ruffle feathers at times.â€
Mr. Cole’s recent album “Born Sinner†was released last month and reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The rapper wrote that he knew he was being offensive when he was contacted by people struggling directly or indirectly with autism.
“I was instantly embarrassed that I would be ignorant enough†to say something so hurtful, Mr. Cole wrote.
Other high-profile rappers have recently let their lyrics get them in trouble and been forced to apologize.
In April, Reebok parted ways with the rapper Rick Ross after the company came under pressure for lyrics he performed in the Rocko song “U.O.E.N.O.†that referred to having sex with a woman without her knowledge after drugging her. Mr. Ross said later, “I should have known better.†Lil Wayne lost an endorsement deal with Mountain Dew in May because of a lyric making a crude reference about Emmett Till, whose death helped ignite the civil rights movement, with a vulgar reference to Mr. Till and sex. The 14-year-old was tortured and murdered in 1955 after accusations of flirting with a white woman. Lil Wayne later said he regretted the lyrics.
