Former actor Joaquin Phoenix has insisted that his new hip-hop career is not a hoax.

Speculation about the seriousness of Phoenix's career move has mounted since he was filmed falling offstage at his debut gig in Las Vegas last month.

However, in an interview to promote his final movie, Two Lovers, Phoenix attempted to play down the rumours and revealed that he had begun recording a full rap album.

"I don't know where that comes from," he said of the speculation.

"If it comes from people that I've had a falling out with, that are (ticked) off at me?

"There's not a hoax. "Might I be ridiculous? Might my career in music be laughable? Yeah, that's possible, but that's certainly not my intention."

Following Phoenix's debut gig, an unnamed associate claimed the former actor had said his shambolic performance was “a put-on”.

Another source said it part for “an art project” with brother-in-law and Hollywood director Casey Affleck, who filmed the concert.

Speaking to the Associated Press news agency, Phoenix acknowledged that the footage of him falling offstage was an unfortunate way to launch a new career.

"It sucks that, yeah, the footage is out there as like this incredibly bad sound, and you literally can't hear what's happening," he said.

"It was much better in the club, and I don't know who said that people were booing ... because that was not happening.”

He also said people had praised his performance after the show.

“My experience afterward was I had a lot of dudes come up and say, `We really respect you for doing it, putting yourself out there, and going with it'," he said.

“Because I think true hip-hop heads know that it's hard, it's going to be a hard transition, and people are going to be lining up just to make fun of me."

Phoenix, who cited Public Enemy as an influence, is currently recording his first hip-hop album in his home studio in Los Angeles.

(by Jason Gregory)