Drake Nearly Left Degrassi After His Rap Friends Called Him “Soft”

The 6 God played the character of teenager Jimmy Brooks for seven seasons. His character was shot in season four resulting in him being paralyzed and wheelchair-bound. James Hurst, a former writer on the show, revealed Drake’s concerns over his image after his character had to appear in a wheelchair. He recalled receiving a letter from a Toronto law firm on Drake’s behalf. “Aubrey Graham will not return to Degrassi season six as Jimmy Brooks unless his injury is healed, and he’s out of the wheelchair,” read the letter. He immediately spoke to Drake about it who said he was unaware of the letter. Hurst then asked Drake how he really felt about the wheelchair. “He’s like, ‘All my friends in the rap game say I’m soft because I’m in a wheelchair,’” he said. Hurst then flipped the situation. “‘Well, tell your friends in the rap game that you got shot. How much harder can you get? You got shot, and you’re in a wheelchair.’ He was like, ‘Yeah, yeah.’”