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Violence breaks out at Pusha T concert as feud with Drake boils over in Toronto

By
Melody Lau

The feud between rappers Drake and Pusha T took another turn on Tuesday night when Pusha paid a visit to Drake's hometown, Toronto.

Pusha, who hails from the Bronx, performed a sold-out show at Toronto's Danforth Music Hall, but the night was interrupted by members of the audience who began throwing drinks at the rapper, a situation that quickly escalated into a brawl onstage. Although there have been conflicting reports on the incident, Pusha was not involved in the fight, as he walked offstage shortly after the stage was drenched.

He did later return to the stage, though, to share what he thinks happened, alleging that his nemesis, Drake, paid some people to throw beer at him. "You know where the f--k I'm from?" he continued. "You don't even know." (Complex claims that there are rumours that Drake bought 200 tickets to this Pusha concert "in order to cause a scene.") He then launched into "Infrared," the track off his 2018 album, Daytona, which reignited a years-long beef with Drake this past summer. A few songs after that, the show was cut short.

Footage of the incident have been uploaded by fans onto Twitter. Warning: the videos below contain graphic content.

CBC News reports that emergency crews were called to the music venue that night, and three people have been hospitalized with minor injuries as a result of one of the many brawls that broke out. Toronto police also responded to a call for "an assault in progress in the Danforth and Broadview Avenues," just after 10:30 p.m. ET. An update this morning notes that one man is now in "life-threatening condition after he was stabbed" during the concert. That man allegedly walked himself to a nearby hospital following what seems to be an altercation that took place at the concert.

How did we get here?

As mentioned, the feud between the two rappers dates back many years, all the way to 2006 when Pusha's former group Clipse attacked Drake's friend and mentor Lil Wayne in the song "Mr. Me Too" for copying the rap duo's style, and specifically for wearing the streetwear brand, BAPE.

After a few years of veiled digs at each other in interviews and songs, Drake finally hit back on his 2013 album, Nothing Was the Same, specfically on the track "Tuscan Leather" where he stated his loyalty to Lil Wayne and took aim at anyone — likely Pusha — who opposed them.

Around 2016, Pusha and Drake began trading jabs over each other's authenticity. Drake questioned Pusha's street credibility, whereas Pusha leaned into rumours that Drake doesn't write his own lyrics. This continued all the way into this year when Daytona dropped and "Infrared" restates these ghostwriting claims with the lyric, "It was written like Nas but it came from Quentin," referring to Quentin Miller, the man some believe is the real writer of Drake's lyrics.

Drake was quick to respond this time and released "Duppy Freestyle," where, in the midst of all his disses, he mentions Virginia Williams, Pusha's longtime girlfriend.

Some claim that last part motivated Pusha’s next move: releasing the freestyle rap, "The Story of Adidon," in which Pusha reveals that Drake is "hiding a child." He calls Drake a "deadbeat" dad, name-checks his parents and even brings in Drake's longtime producer, Noah "40" Shebib, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

Five months went by without another response from either party, but in October, Drake gave a rare interview on LeBron James and Maverick Carter's HBO program, The Shop, during which he said the following about the long-running feud and "The Story of Adidon": "Wishing death upon my friend who has MS... I study rap battles for a living. When you mention defenseless people who are sick in the hospital, who have passed away, I just believe that there's a price you have to pay for that. It's over! Someone's gonna f--king punch you in the f--king face."

Drake has not publicly said anything about last night's Pusha performance in Toronto, and the ensuing violent outbursts.

Related:

Everything you need to know about the Drake and Pusha-T beef

Man critically injured after brawl at Pusha T concert

3 people taken to hospital after brawl on stage at Danforth Music Hall