J. Cole Admits He Started Smoking Cigarettes At Age 6, “Trying To Be Cool” [Video]

J. Cole, who typically keeps most aspects of his private life under wraps, made a shocking revelation about when he began smoking cigarettes. 

The “Nobody’s Perfect” star sat down with the Lead by Example With Bob Myers podcast for their Tuesday episode. Sharing some background on his upbringing, the 38-year-old revealed that he was smoking cigarettes on a regular basis by the time he was six years old in his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. He said he picked up the habit while hanging out with older kids in the neighborhood while “trying to be cool.”

“So, it was like, ‘Oh, y’all smoking. Let me see that.’ And, of course, we’re all out there with young parents, long leashes,” Cole shared.

At the time, his mother, Kay, and brother Zach were unaware of the habit he’d picked up. However, when Zach caught him asking someone for a smoke, he went straight home to tell their mother. Cole says when confronted, he didn’t immediately fess up. But once his mother smelled the distinct cigarette aroma on his breath, he could no longer hide it. It was this moment that sparked a change within him. 

“The reason why I think that was a life-changing moment where after that, I didn’t need much correction,” Cole explained. “That was the first time I became aware that, ‘Oh, my actions can hurt someone else.’”

According to the CDC, nearly all tobacco starts during childhood and progresses during adulthood. So Cole’s story is not uncommon. Thankfully, his smoking phase only lasted a few weeks.