Considering the number of shootings the rap community has weathered in recent weeks, a death hoax couldn’t be more ill timed. But on Saturday night (November 13), someone tweeted a photoshopped Los Angeles Times article with a headline claiming Drake had died and pandemonium ensued.
The hashtag #RIPDrake quickly started making the rounds, causing panic, confusion, fear and, naturally, some outrageous memes. Of course, the Toronto rap star is very much alive and simply the latest victim of an internet death hoax.
Several rappers have experienced this phenomenon in the past, some multiple times. Silento, famous for his viral 2015 song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” was killed off in June 2018 following a stabbing at a Los Angeles bar.
His publicist quickly laid the rumor to rest in a statement to HipHopDX that read, “Silento is alive and well and readying to release his new studio album ‘Fresh Outta High School. Unfortunately, Silento’s phone was compromised and the proper actions are being put in place on the perpetrator. “
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Then in 2016, Kanye West was rumored to have been replaced by a clone because the real ‘Ye had passed away. Fans concluded his erratic behavior that year — which included his now-infamous rant about JAY-Z and Beyoncé — didn’t really come from him.
Despite the seriousness of the topic, the memes were hilarious — although some people didn’t find the joke to be funny at all.
Check out some of the reactions below.
Them drive by muster shootings out in Canada at no joke. White walkers flexin!
*musket
sometimes i wish he was killed.
Hi, I edit websites that have hip hop. I don’t really care about the culture, and love to see people say the dumbest racist ill-informed shit on my website. No, I won’t remove them, because I love the toxicity, if someone were plotting to kill a rapper, I wouldn’t take it down either, its just freedom of speech, or satire. You know, I don’t believe in community really, that sounds like a made up term. I do believe in facilitating conversation, even if its unhealthy and SOME people think it brings down the integrity of our site, FUCK THEM, they are poo poo heads. Anyway Fuck hip hop really I’m just here waiting on the Third Great Trouble.
But Drake is dead, though. Pusha T killed him back in May 2018. Yuuugh!
I wouldn’t have a bad day even if Wheelchair Jimmy kicks the bucket. #GodsPlan
drake is pretty whack but this is not cool
what is a drake?
Instead of doing articles like these ya should have a album lyrics decipher section, like breaking down barz from supreme clientele, roc Marciano songs, shit Mach Hommy would be cool asf. Him and droog took their lyrics genius. It will show that you have some type of hip hop knowledge and not come off as tmz on a short budget.
Another legend gone way before his prime. When will it end??? RIP my dude…..
Its a hoax. People about 3-4 months ago had that Rip Eminem shit but he’s alive
Why do they keep repeating the hashtag making it more popular, leading more people to believe its true.
As much as I hate when this kind of thing spread over the internet. Drake is the same person who tweeted Kanye West the purple horned emoji’s just like what King Von and Chicago did to signify someone being a target as well as having ” mob ties.” If people arent going to REALLY care then we’re gonna have another XXXTentacion where someone talks tough/street when he’s not about it. This has got to stop.
I want to EMPHASIZE from my previous comment. I DO NOT WISH DEATH UPON ANYONE. Its just this cycle in hip hop of people dying or getting beat up because they want to act like they are street and/or mob and decide to use it as a joke or game has got to stop.