An internet rumor that rapper J. Cole will retire from music has been stirring in the murky waters of TikTok and Twitter over the past week, but it seems to be totally unfounded. Despite this, memes reacting to his supposed departure from hip-hop have flooded social media in recent days.

Pov: u find out J.cole is
retiring pic.twitter.com/6MRhmuFeb0

— m da coolest🫂 (@yallsfavlibra) May 8, 2022

An April Fools' TikTok featuring a photoshopped tweet from J.Cole announcing the retirement may have begun the rumor. Fabricating posts by public figures or media organizations to gin up a weird news cycle seems to be an increasingly popular meme trend, and was responsible recently for both the fake Snickers Dick Vein controversy and the blossoming of Goblin Mode into our cultural awareness.

@relexyt J Cole Just RETIRED!😳 #JCole #rap #theoffseason #raptok #AprilFools ♬ original sound – Kaleb

A tweet from mid-April by a fan account that “J. Cole has officially retired” seemed to throw more fuel onto the fake news fire.

J. Cole has officially retired.

— Team DREAMVILLE (@TeamDreamville) April 18, 2022

The rumor seemed to reach critical mass about two or three days ago, with TikTokers posting videos of themselves grieving and weeping after hearing the news while a brief and sad sample from J. Cole’s song “Deja Vu” played in the background.

@bfgjoseph y’all joking right? #jcole ♬ original sound – Arzinho10

@emocacagir1

yes

♬ original sound – 𓅓

Reactions and memes across Twitter were generally aghast, conveying distress and bereavement at the events.

J Cole is officially retiring?!!? My night…. Is ruined….. ✋😔 pic.twitter.com/bOnU9hxVZn

— Nanacitas (@aliyanamonte) May 11, 2022

j cole retiring makes me wanna retire from life .😙

— flor ramos .💗 (@flor_ramos9) May 9, 2022

Meanwhile, in the real world, J. Cole attended the college graduation of a fan. As a high-schooler a decade ago, Cierra Bosarge wrote a letter to the rapper asking him if he would come to her high school graduation in place of her parents, who were not in her life at the time. J.Cole agreed, and now has shown up to her college graduation as well, continuing to support her as she continues on in life.

We love this! #jcole kept his promise. The rapper went to super fan Cierra Bosarge’s high school graduation after she wrote him a letter in 2013. Years later he attended her college graduation at Rowan University. 💕 pic.twitter.com/T2BHpUBAnj

— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) May 12, 2022

jcole was at my graduation today😭 pic.twitter.com/c2R9OigHaX

— ⚆Benni⚆ (@Bennigami) May 11, 2022