Drake Reflects On Intense School Shooting Episode Of "Degrassi"

BY Caroline Fisher
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Drake School Shooting "Degrassi" Hip Hop News
Jun 26, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Canadian rapper Drake poses for photos on the red carpet before the 2017 NBA Awards at Basketball City at Pier 36. Brad Penner / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
According to Drake, learning that his "Degrassi" character's life would be permanently altered was "dark."

Drake has come a long way since playing the character of Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation, but that doesn't mean he doesn't remember the highs and lows of the role. In a new documentary about the teen drama series, Degrassi: Whatever It Takes, he reflects on the moment he and his castmates learned that his character would be permanently injured in a school shooting. According to him, it was heavy for everyone involved and came as a complete surprise.

"I didn't know about the end of 'Time Stands Still' until I was in the read-through. Somebody told me to mentally prepare for today’s script, but they didn’t tell me there was going to be a shooting at the school and that it was me," he explained, per Complex. "There was shock and sadness. We were holding hands and crying in the read-through. It was dark. It was intense."

"My question was 'What now? I don’t want to spend the rest of my years in a wheelchair,” Drake continued. “I want to be with everyone else, what do you mean?' Unfortunately, that’s not how life goes."

Drake ICEMAN

NBA: Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder
Dec 1, 2021; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Rapper, singer and actor Drake watches the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Houston Rockets during the second half of an Oklahoma City Thunder game at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"I think that was why I think that show’s so good, because life is f*cked up and they weren’t afraid to let you know that," the Toronto rapper added. "A lot more went into playing Jimmy after I got shot, for sure. It gave me something to study. It gave me homework.”

As for what Drake is working on these days, he's currently gearing up to drop his ninth studio album, ICEMAN. The project doesn't have an official release date yet, but it's expected to arrive sometime this year. So far, he's given fans a taste of what's to come with a few singles, including "What Did I Miss?" and "Dog House."

About The Author
Caroline Fisher is currently a News Editor at HotNewHipHop. Her time at HotNewHipHop began in 2023 when she began writing about music and pop culture full-time. Since then, she has helped cover major stories including the YSL RICO trial, Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s explosive feud, Diddy’s ongoing legal battle, and awards shows such as the BET Awards. Being from Chicago, she also got the opportunity to attend Summer Smash 2024 and review Chief Keef’s historic homecoming show. She additionally covered sets by Flo Milli, Playboi Carti, Bktherula, and more.

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