"The last few days I have been in a moral bind," the rapper wrote on his October's Very Own blog. "I am used to the fact that my life and the things I say to my fans are? closely watched. It's tough in situations like this where there's a tragedy and I consider the advice of my trusted advisors and counsel who worry that anything I might say could be misinterpreted. However, today I am choosing to follow my heart."

The rapper went on to say he was "plagued and pained by the violence that continues to escalate in our city" and tried to instill a sense of optimism in the tragic situation.

"I stare into the eyes of so many young people and I wish to see them all shine as bright as they possibly can in this lifetime," Drake wrote. "I encourage my generation to show as much value and gratitude as you can for the lives we have been gifted."

Following Drake's annual OVO Fest, police responded to reports of a "sporadic shooting" at Toronto's Musik nightclub. Duvel Hibbert, 23, and Ariela Navarro-Fenoy, 26, died from their injuries, with the shooter remaining at large.

As The Hollywood Reporter noted, the party was open to the public and advertised as "the official OVO fest after-party, hosted by Drake with music by Charlie B."

While not specifically calling Drake out by name, Toronto police chief Mark Saunders issued a plea earlier this week for any witnesses to the crime to come forward and share what they know with authorities.

"Whenever we try to solve homicide cases, it's not just the law enforcement that makes these outcomes successful," he said (via the Toronto Sun). "When people do not assist with investigations, what it does is it encourages those who decide to bring firearms to locations to use it... when you don't talk, it encourages these types of people to carry firearms with them."

Drake ended his letter by extolling the community-centered vibe of Canada's most populous city. "Although Toronto is globally viewed as a major city, at the core we are still a small close-knit community, and it is our public responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of one another," the rapper wrote. "We need each other to further our communities for generations to come. I pray for better times and better understanding."

Drake's Full Statement on OVO Fest After Party Shooting:

The last few days I have been in a moral bind.

I am used to the fact that my life and the things I say to my fans are? closely watched. It's tough in situations like this where there's a tragedy and I consider the advice of my trusted advisors and counsel who worry that anything I might say could be misinterpreted.

However, today I am choosing to follow my heart.

I am plagued and pained by the violence that continues to escalate in our city. I stare into the eyes of so many young people and I wish to see them all shine as bright as they possibly can in this lifetime. I encourage my generation to show as much value and gratitude as you can for the lives we have been gifted.

My deepest condolences go out to the Navarro-Fenoy and Hibbert families for their loss of Ariela and Duvel. Along with them I send my condolences to all of the families that have lost loved ones to the senseless violence that has and continues to occur in our city.

Although Toronto is globally viewed as a major city, at the core we are still a small close-knit community, and it is our public responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of one another. We need each other to further our communities for generations to come.

I pray for better times and better understanding.

Source: rollingstone.com

Date Posted: Friday, August 14th, 2015 , Total Page Views: 1280