Drake Denies Romance With Rihanna

'[She's] just a friend, that's all,' Drake says.

Drake didn't sound all that convincing, but he's sticking to his story.

The fast-rising rapper/singer called in to New York's Hot 97 Thursday morning (May 21) and denied gossip that he and Rihanna are an "item."

On Wednesday, the New York Post published an item in its gossip column claiming that Drake and Rihanna were spied kissing all night on Monday at New York's Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge bowling alley. One of the paper's spies was quoted as saying, "She was drinking whiskey and apple juice and making out with him all night. ... They were really cute together."

Drake downplayed the rumor mill on Thursday morning, while also promoting his Hot 97 concert next Tuesday.

"It's not like that at all," Drake told show hosts Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg. "I'm being honest. [She's] just a friend, that's all. A great artist."

Drake did admit he was at the same place as Rihanna, but reiterated nothing was going on between them. "Nothing at all. I have the most respect for her. I think she's so talented."

Drake said he was also "honored" that Page Six would choose his name to put in a romantic Rihanna rumor.

Neither Rihanna nor her team have commented on the report.

Meanwhile, Rihanna plays the leading lady in Kanye West's new video "Paranoid." The clip was debuted Wednesday night in New York at a Def Jam Records event. Also, R. Kelly has added vocals to Drake's "Best I Ever Had" to make an unofficial remix.