The rapper Drake has broken his 10-day silence after the fatal shooting of two people at his concert afterparty to offer his condolences and urge others of his generation to value life.
“I am plagued and pained by the violence that continues to escalate in our city,” the Canadian rapper wrote. “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.”
He wrote that he was advised to refrain from addressing the Aug. 4 shootings publicly, the Toronto Star reports, but said he had to follow his heart.
The shooting took place in Toronto after Drake performed at the OVO Fest, and investigators have yet to solve the murders.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0
- How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker
- The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Julia Zorthian at julia.zorthian@time.com