Drake has been listed as one of the potential witnesses in the murder case of rapper XXXTentacion. Defense attorneys for one of the four men charged with the 2018 murder of XXXTentacion (born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy) has called Drake, Quavo, Offset, late Migos rapper Takeoff, Tekashi 6ix9ine and Joe Budden — as witnesses, according to court documents per Billboard.
This move follows the 2017 beef between Drizzy and the late rapper. That beef led to multiple internet rumors alluding to Drake’s involvement with XXXTentacion’s death. The beef started when the late artist believed that the Toronto rapper copied his flow from his breakout hit “Look at Me.” He thought Drake used him on his song “KMT.”
The public feud got even more attention because XXXTentacion allegedly posted four months before his death: “if anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi,” which is Drake’s Instagram handle. However, after the post was made, XXXTentacion claimed his Instagram account had been hacked.
On Thursday (Dec. 15), the Miami Herald reported that prosecutors alleged that the move was a stunt and Broward Circuit Judge Michael Usan wanted to know why the celebrities were relevant.
“It is apparent from the deliberate, late disclosure of the defendant’s witnesses and comments made between the parties that [the] defendant intended to ‘surprise’ the state and create a trial by ambush,” wrote prosecutor Pascale Achille, as reported by the Herald.
The move is being made by the defense attorney Mauricio Padilla. He is representing 27-year-old Dedrick Williams, the alleged getaway driver.
“They are high-profile people. And it’s not easy for me to subpoena. I don’t have numbers, but it doesn’t mean I won’t be able to,” Padilla told the judge. “Trying to subpoena Drake is not easy — you need a drone.”
In addition to the aforementioned celebrities, other rappers listed as witnesses are former XXXTentacion associates: rappers Tankhead666 (Lynwood Walker III), who is awaiting trial for his alleged role in an unrelated Miami murder, and Ski Mask the Slump God (Stokeley Clevon Goulbourne), who were all part of a collective known as Members Only, the outlet reports.
The list of potential witnesses are not obligated to show up to court until Padilla proves relevance which has not yet been determined. The trial is set for Jan. 9.