Drake ‘in moral bind’ over OVO shooting

Drake has been "in a moral bind" over the people who lost their lives at his OVO Fest bash.

During the 28-year-old rapper's afterparty held at the Muzik Nightclub in Toronto, Canada on August 4, gunmen began shooting their weapons, killing Duvel Hibbert, 23, and Ariela Navarro-Fenoy, 26 in the crossfire.

Drake has kept mum on the fatal incident for over a week, but he decided to speak out about it on Friday August 14.

"The last few days I have been in a moral bind. However, today I am choosing to follow my heart," he wrote in a statement released to Noisey.

Drake is a Toronto native and it hurts him deeply to see fellow residents suffering from the effects of gun violence.

He wants the madness to end.

"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," Drake emphasised.

"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."