Drake mansion shooting leaves bodyguard injured

A bodyguard for Canadian musician Drake has been shot and seriously injured during a shooting at the gates of the 4,650 square metre mansion that the 37-year-old rapper has built in one of Toronto’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, known as Bridle Path. According to Canadian police, the attack occurred at two o’clock in the morning and was perpetrated by a group of people whose identities are still unknown.

Although his identification could not be determined, a police spokesman confirmed that he was a member of Drake’s security detail. The shooting, he said, was recorded by security cameras. The spokesman did not want to speculate on the possible cause, but indicated that the authorities have been aware of the conflict between Drake and US rapper Kendrick Lamar for years.

On 4 May, Lamar released the song ‘Not Like Us’. In this piece, the rapper rescued an old accusation against Drake that he is allegedly a paedophile and that he has an unacknowledged secret daughter. In the song’s music video, an image of Drake’s mansion where the incident took place is illustrated with red, white and black icons used to mark the presence of convicted paedophiles.

Shortly after Lamar released ‘Not Like Us’, Drake responded with another song, ‘The Heart Part 6’, in which he denies the allegations. Both singers have been at each other’s throats for years. Lamar has even taken a swipe at the Canadian’s family with a single called ‘Meet the Grahams’, in reference to his real name, which is Aubrey Graham. In it he claims that Drake is a gambling addict and that he gives jobs to people convicted of sex crimes.

Although Drake and Lamar were initially friends, in 2013 the relationship went awry when the Compton native referred to Drake and other rappers in a song with Big Sean. But the rivalry exploded in full force when Drake released last year’s album First Person Shooter, where a J. Cole song put Drake and Lamar’s quality on the same level, something Lamar took offence to.

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