J. Cole recently declined a generous $10 million charity donation proposal from popular internet streamer Adin Ross because he did not want the act to be filmed for social media. Ross had suggested the idea of making a substantial donation in J. Cole’s hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and capturing the event on camera. However, the rapper politely refused, expressing his preference to keep such charitable acts away from public attention.
Ross, one of the most well-known streamers on the internet, recounted his conversation with the Dreamville rapper during a recent live stream. He recalled sitting next to Cole at an NBA Finals game between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat earlier this month. During their conversation, Ross proposed collaborating on a video where they would donate a significant amount of money to the local community.
“I said, ‘Yo, would you want to make a video where you and I go to Fayetteville and give out a huge sum of money?’” Ross shared. “That’s exactly what I said. And Cole said, ‘I like the idea, I really appreciate it. But I don’t like doing things like that in front of the camera.’”
Respecting Cole’s wishes, Ross praised the rapper for his authenticity and commitment to doing good deeds without seeking public recognition. Despite his preference for privacy, J. Cole has been actively involved in charitable work. He established the Dreamville Foundation in 2011 to support children in his hometown of Fayetteville.
“Since its inception, we have continued to serve children and support family members trying to overcome social obstacles in and around Fayetteville. Over the years, we have expanded to other cities and states,” states the foundation’s website.
The foundation’s mission is to bridge the gap between opportunities for urban youth. It provides necessary resources, charitable donations, programs, and events to empower and inspire young people to achieve their dreams.
In another livestream, Adin Ross revealed that J. Cole also turned down his request for “life advice” during the NBA game. However, Cole gave Ross his phone number and promised to have a heartfelt conversation in the future.
“Cole sat down and said, ‘What’s up, man? How are you? Where are you at right now?’ etc. We had some nice talks, small conversations. We’re watching the game, and I really wasn’t trying to talk to him much. He was just there to hang out and enjoy the game,” Ross recalled.