The internet has a weird way of turning real-life tragedies into complex, digital escape rooms. When Jahseh Onfroy, known globally as XXXTentacion, was gunned down outside Riva Motorsports in Deerfield Beach, Florida, on June 18, 2018, the world didn’t just mourn. It theorized. Within hours, the question did Drake kill XXX began trending, fueled by a mixture of genuine beef history, cryptic lyrics, and the collective imagination of millions of fans who weren't ready to accept a random robbery-gone-wrong as the final answer.
It sounds like a movie script. A rap titan vs. a rising, controversial star. But we have to look at the actual evidence, the court proceedings, and the messy reality of the music industry to understand why this rumor persists.
The Origins Of The Drake and XXXTentacion Beef
To understand why anyone would even ask did Drake kill XXX, you have to go back to 2017. X was sitting in a jail cell when Drake previewed a new track called "KMT" during a show in Amsterdam. Fans immediately noticed the flow. It sounded almost identical to X’s breakout hit "Look At Me!"
X didn't take it lying down.
From behind bars and later upon his release, X went on a social media tear. He called Drake a "bitch," made disparaging comments about Drake’s mother, and claimed the OVO rapper was a "culture vulture." Drake, in his typical fashion, stayed mostly silent in the press but let his music do the talking. The tension was palpable. It wasn't just a disagreement; it was a clash of generations and ideologies. X represented the raw, unfiltered energy of SoundCloud rap, while Drake was the polished, untouchable king of the charts.
Then came "SICKO MODE." Then came "I'm Upset." Every time Drake dropped a bar that even vaguely referenced "X" or "Triple X," the comment sections exploded. People started looking for "confessions" in the lyrics.
The Murder Trial And The Names In The Courtroom
Fast forward to 2023. The trial for the men actually accused of killing Onfroy—Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome—brought the Drake rumors back into the mainstream spotlight. This wasn't just Twitter talk anymore; it was part of a legal strategy.
Defense attorney David Bogenschutz, representing one of the accused, tried to pivot the focus. He argued that investigators hadn't properly looked into other potential suspects, including Drake. He cited the well-documented beef as a motive. At one point, the defense even tried to depose Drake (Aubrey Graham), demanding he sit for a recorded interview.
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Drake’s lawyers fought it. Hard.
They called the attempt to involve him a "fishing expedition" and argued there was zero physical evidence linking him to the crime. A judge eventually agreed, and Drake never had to testify. But for the conspiracy theorists, the mere mention of his name in a courtroom was enough to cement the idea. They saw it as "where there's smoke, there's fire."
The reality of the trial, however, was much more grounded in a grim, mundane reality. The prosecution presented thousands of photos, cell phone data, and surveillance footage. The motive? A robbery. The killers saw X at the motorcycle dealership, saw his Louis Vuitton bag filled with $50,000 in cash, and decided to take it. It was a crime of opportunity that turned fatal.
Examining The Lyrics: Coincidence Or Confession?
If you spend five minutes on TikTok or YouTube, you’ll find "deep dives" into Drake’s lyrics. This is where the did Drake kill XXX narrative gets its oxygen.
Take the song "I'm Upset." It dropped shortly before X’s death. In it, Drake mentions "SMS, Triple X." Fans jumped on this. Was it a threat? Or was he talking about "Safe Messaging Service" and adult content?
Then there’s "SICKO MODE," where Drake raps, "I outproduced him, I out-cleared him... I'm the one who did it."
Honestly, if we arrested every rapper who claimed to have "done it" in a song, the industry would be empty. Rap is built on hyperbole. It’s built on "tough talk." Drake has been playing the "mob boss" persona for years. It’s part of his brand. Using these lyrics as forensic evidence is like using a Stephen King novel to solve a cold case. It's interesting, but it's not proof.
The most cited "evidence" is from the song "On BS," where Drake mentions a "six-page letter" and "Triple X." Again, the timeline and the context matter. Drake’s penchant for wordplay often includes references to his rivals, both dead and alive. To a grieving fan, it looks like a taunt. To a music critic, it looks like Drake being Drake—poking the bear and maintaining his status as the most talked-about person in the room.
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Why The Rumor Won't Die
Why do we want it to be true? Not because we want Drake to be a murderer, but because human beings hate "senseless" violence. The idea that a 20-year-old superstar was killed for a bag of money by four guys who happened to be at the same store is depressing. It’s chaotic.
If Drake did it? Then there’s a narrative. There’s a "why." It turns a tragedy into a Shakespearean drama.
But look at the guys who were actually convicted.
- Michael Boatwright: Identified as the shooter.
- Dedrick Williams: The "driver" and the first one arrested.
- Trayvon Newsome: The second gunman.
- Robert Allen: The one who turned state's witness and told the whole story.
Allen’s testimony was the nail in the coffin. He described the group's movements in detail. He talked about how they went to Riva Motorsports to buy a mask, saw X, and decided on the fly to rob him. There was no mention of a "handler." No mention of a check from Toronto. No secret meetings. It was a messy, poorly planned robbery by young men who didn't realize the gravity of what they were doing until it was over.
The Role Of Social Media In Spreading Misinformation
We live in an era where "clout" is a currency. YouTubers and "investigative" TikTokers gain millions of views by connecting dots that aren't actually there. They use grainy footage, slowed-down audio, and red circles to make something out of nothing.
When you ask did Drake kill XXX, you are interacting with a machine designed to keep you clicking. These creators often ignore the boring facts—like the GPS data from the killers' phones—in favor of the spicy fiction.
X himself didn't help matters before he passed. He once posted on his Instagram story: "If anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi [Drake's handle]. I'm snitching RN." He later deleted it and claimed his account was hacked. Was it a genuine fear? Or was it X, a master of internet trolling, stirring the pot? We'll never know for sure, but given his history of erratic social media behavior, the "hack" or "troll" theory holds a lot of weight.
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Fact vs. Fiction: The Definitive Breakdown
Let's strip away the hype and look at the cold facts.
- Evidence of Drake's involvement: Zero. No financial links, no communication records, no witness testimony.
- The Murderers: Four men with clear ties to the local area and a history of petty crime.
- The Motive: A Louis Vuitton bag containing $50,000.
- The Legal Outcome: Three of the men were sentenced to life in prison. The justice system, after years of investigation, found no reason to charge or even deeply investigate Drake beyond the defense's "distraction" tactics.
Drake is a businessman. He’s a global icon. The idea that he would risk a multi-billion dollar empire to put a hit on a kid in Florida over a song flow doesn't pass the "logic test." He has dealt with bigger rivals—Pusha T, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar—without resorting to violence. He wins with PR and hits, not with hits in the literal sense.
What This Tells Us About Modern Celebrity Culture
The obsession with this theory says more about us than it does about Drake or X. We are addicted to the "dark side" of the industry. We want the "Illuminati" stories and the secret wars.
But the truth is often much sadder. The truth is that Florida has a high rate of gun violence. The truth is that X was a young man with a target on his back because of his fame and his visible wealth. The truth is that four people made a horrific decision that ended a life and ruined their own.
Actionable Insights For Navigating Music Rumors
It's easy to get sucked into the rabbit hole. If you're trying to figure out what's real and what's "stan twitter" fiction, keep these things in mind:
- Follow the Court Documents: Public records don't have an agenda. If you want to know what happened in the XXXTentacion case, read the trial transcripts of State of Florida vs. Dedrick Williams et al.
- Check the Source: If a "leak" comes from an anonymous "insider" on a subreddit, take it with a grain of salt. If it comes from a reputable journalist who has vetted the information, it's worth considering.
- Understand Rap Tropes: Don't confuse lyrics with depositions. Rappers play characters. When Drake says he "took a trip" or "handled business," he's usually talking about the Billboard charts or his business deals.
- Acknowledge the Tragedy: Beyond the memes and the theories, a family lost a son and a child lost a father. Shifting the focus to a "celebrity feud" often dehumanizes the victim.
The question of did Drake kill XXX is essentially settled in the eyes of the law and the eyes of those who value evidence over "vibes." While the beef was real, and the lyrics were definitely pointed, the leap from "internet argument" to "orchestrated murder" is one that requires more than just a catchy beat and a cryptic Instagram post to bridge.
The story of XXXTentacion is a cautionary tale about fame, security, and the volatility of the rap world. It doesn't need a secret villain to be impactful. The reality—the loss of a massive talent at just 20 years old—is heavy enough on its own. Stick to the facts, respect the process, and recognize the difference between a lyrical jab and a criminal act. The case is closed, the shooters are behind bars, and the music is all that’s left.