Drake Allegedly Did Not Want His Degrassi Character, Jimmy, To Remain In A Wheelchair: All My Friends In The Rap Game Say I’m Soft

Drake Allegedly Did Not Want His Degrassi Character, Jimmy, To Remain In A Wheelchair: All My Friends In The Rap Game Say I’m Soft

Did Drake’s character ‘Wheelchair Jimmy’ hold him back in the rap game?

Before joining Cash Money Records, Aubrey Graham, professional known as Drake, played the character of Jimmy on the Canadian-based teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. But in season four of the hit show, things took a dark turn when Drake’s character was shot in the back and left paralyzed from the waist down.

Now in a new interview, show runner James Hurst explains that Drake wanted Jimmy out of the chair.

Drake

James Hurst said he received a letter from a law firm stating the Six-god would not return as Jimmy if he stayed in a wheelchair. Seemingly confused James Hurst asked Drake to come see him. He said,

“He came in and was like, ‘What letter? I don’t know about that.’ And I said, ‘All right, I understand. But how do you feel about the wheelchair?”

He continued,

“He’s like, ‘All my friends in the rap game say I’m soft because I’m in a wheelchair.’ And I said, ‘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.'” 

Hurst says that Drake was apologetic. He added,

“I was very passionate about it, and I said, ‘Aubrey, there’s some kid somewhere in a wheelchair, who’s completely ignored, who’s never on television, never gets represented. I need you to represent this person. You’re the coolest kid on the show, and you can say there’s nothing wrong with being in a wheelchair.’”

The Certified Lover Boy eventually backed down and went on to play ‘Wheelchair Jimmy’ through season eight before leaving the show. And in 2018, he reunited with his former cast mates for the video of his song, ‘I’m Upset.’ 

Do you think Drake’s character Jimmy paved the way or hindered him? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. 

VIA