Corrections and clarifications: An earlier version of this story misidentified Smoke Dawg in a wire service photo.
Rapper Smoke Dawg was killed Saturday night in Toronto.
The 21-year-old musician (real name: Jahvante Smart), who opened for Drake on his 2017 Boy Meets World European tour, has been identified as one of the victims in a triple shooting.
CP24, a 24-hour local news channel, says three people (two men and one woman) were shot outside Cube Nightclub in the Entertainment District, shortly before 8 p.m. local time.
Toronto Police confirmed Sunday in a statement that both men — Smart and Ernest Modekwe, 28, a producer known as Koba Prime — succumbed to their injuries. Post-mortem examinations are scheduled for Tuesday, police said. The woman, who wasn't identified, is expected to recover from her injuries.
Drake paid tribute to the fellow Canadian musician in an Instagram story on Saturday: "All these gifts and blessed souls and inner lights being extinguished lately is devastating," he wrote, over of a picture of himself performing with Smoke Dawg. "I wish peace would wash over our city. So much talent and so many stories we never get to see play out. Rest up Smoke."
Director Nathan Miller, who made a film about Canada's rap scene featuring Smoke Dawg, also posted about rapper's death.
"RIP Smoke Dawg, Toronto legend," he wrote in a tweet with video of Smoke Dawg talking about coming "from nothing" to making his mother happy.
The up-and-coming rapper had most recently tweeted about new music, "Fountain Freestyle," and is known for his 2015 remix "Trap House," which features French Montana. He was part of the Halal Gang, a rap collective that includes fellow artists Safe, Puffy L'z and Mo-G.
He is survived by a 1-year-old daughter, his parents and 13 siblings. A candlelight vigil will be held Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Metropolitan Church (Queen Street East and Church Street) in Toronto.
News of Smoke Dawg's death comes less than two weeks after rapper XXXTentacion was shot to death in South Florida.
Contributing: Kim Willis
WSBTV
