Smoke Dawg death: Drake leads tributes to Toronto rapper after nightclub shooting

21-year-old had supported Drake during his 2017 Boy Meets World tour

Drake has led the artists paying tribute to fellow Toronto rapper Smoke Dawg, after he was shot and killed outside a club over the weekend.

The 21-year-old, born Jahvante Smart, was identified as one of three victims of a shooting outside Cube Nightclub in Toronto's entertainment district, according to local media reports. Another man, 28-year-old producer Koba Prime (real name Ernest Modekwe) also died, while a woman is expected to recover from her injuries.

Drake paid tribute to Smoke Dawg, who opened for the Scorpion artist on his 2017 Boy Meets World European tour, in an Instagram story where he wrote: "All these gifts and blessed souls and inner lights being extinguished lately is devastating.

"I wish peace would wash over our city. So much talent and so many stories we will never get to see play out. Rest up Smoke."

Smoke Dawg shared a congratulatory message to Drake just two days ago, where he posted about the Michael Jackson verse featured on Drake's new album Scorpion, calling him "big bro".

Producer Murda Beatz, who worked on Drake's hit song "Nice For What", appeared to have known both Smoke Dawg and Koba Prime. He tweeted: "RIP my brothers Smoke Dawg and Koba. Love you guys 4 life... rest easy."

Director Nathan Miller, who made a film about the rap scene in Canada which featured Smoke Dawg, tweeted a video about the rapper talking about coming "from nothing" to being able to make his mother happy. "RIP Smoke Dawg, Toronto legend," Miller said.

Smoke Dawg was a member of rap collective the Halal Gang, and had also collaborated with American hip hop artist French Montana, along with UK grime star Skepta. He appeared on BBC Radio 1Xtra's Fire In The Booth series in 2017.

Fellow grime artists and rappers from the UK also paid tribute, including Giggs, Chip, and Yungen.

His family have said he leaves behind a one-year-old daughter, his parents, and 13 siblings.