Before he became one of the biggest names in rap, Drake was a teenage actor in Toronto, best known for playing Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation. Now, in the newly released documentary Degrassi: Whatever It Takes, the superstar is finally opening up about one of the most emotional and life-altering arcs of his career — the school shooting storyline that left Jimmy paralyzed.
Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, admits he was completely caught off guard by the script.
“I didn’t know about the end of ‘Time Stands Still’ until I was in the read-through,” he revealed. “Somebody told me to mentally prepare for today’s script, but they didn’t tell me there was going to be a shooting at the school and that it was me.”
The news hit hard. The entire cast reportedly broke down.
“There was shock and sadness. We were holding hands and crying in the read-through. It was dark. It was intense.”
The Challenge of Playing Jimmy Brooks After the Shooting
While the storyline was groundbreaking, Drake admits he initially struggled with the direction of his character.
“My question was, ‘What now? I don’t want to spend the rest of my years in a wheelchair. I want to be with everyone else — what do you mean?’ Unfortunately, that’s not how life goes.”
Still, as he adjusted to the role, he began to appreciate its weight.
“I think that was why that show’s so good, because life is f*cked up and they weren’t afraid to let you know that.”
Portraying Jimmy Brooks after the shooting gave him a new kind of challenge as a young actor.
“A lot more went into playing Jimmy after I got shot, for sure. It gave me something to study. It gave me homework.”
Why the Storyline Still Matters
The Degrassi shooting episode aired in 2004 and remains one of the series’ most memorable and talked-about storylines. For many viewers, Jimmy Brooks became a symbol of resilience and representation, particularly for young people living with disabilities.
At the same time, the show’s unflinching approach to real-life issues — from school violence to mental health — set it apart from other teen dramas of its era. For Drake, being part of that cultural conversation shaped the way he understood storytelling, long before he found his voice in music.
From Degrassi to the Top of the Charts
While acting gave him a foundation, music was always Drake’s calling. After leaving the series, he launched a rap career that would redefine hip hop, delivering chart-dominating albums and arena-filling tours.
Now, he’s preparing to release his ninth studio album, ICEMAN. Although the project doesn’t have a firm release date yet, fans already have a taste through singles like “What Did I Miss?” and “Dog House.”
Full-Circle Reflection
Looking back, Drake says he understands the importance of the storyline — both for his growth as an actor and for the show’s impact.
Degrassi gave him his first platform, but the lessons learned from Jimmy Brooks’ journey still echo through his work today: honesty, vulnerability, and facing life’s hardest realities head-on.
And while fans may now know him as a rap icon, the boy who once played Jimmy Brooks hasn’t forgotten the script that changed everything.
