For Migos rapper Offset, the shooting that landed him in the hospital earlier this month is no match for his desire to get back to work.
The โBodiesโ and โRun It Upโ musician, born Kiari Cephus, seemingly shrugged off the incident and his injury, noting in a recent appearance on โCreators Inc. Podcastโ that heโs โgotta keep pushinโ, like the Energizer bunny.โ
โAinโt got time to be slowing down,โ the 34-year-old rapper told podcast host Andrew Bachman.
Offset was shot the evening of April 6 near the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The shooting occurred after an altercation that allegedly involved 24-year-old rapper Lil Tjay. After Offset was shot, he was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood in stable condition.
Florida officials arrested Lil Tjay โ real name Tione Jayden Merritt โ on suspicion of disorderly conduct and operating a vehicle without a valid license. He was released the day after the shooting after posting bond. A legal representative for Lil Tjay denied โfalse rumorsโ that their client was involved in the shooting.
In a statement shared on social media, Offset thanked fans for their support and said that he is focused on his family โ he shares three children with rap superstar Cardi B โ his โrecovery, and getting back to the music…realizing that life is made up of quiet wins and loud losses…โ
โLifeโs a gamble and Iโm still playing to win,โ he added.
Offset was back to performing just days after the shooting, rolling out on stage in a wheelchair for an event at the University of Arkansas, according to video he posted on social media. During the podcast, Offset said he intends to be โtotally locked downโ in creating new music, teasing that a new album is on the way.
Offset, who said he found himself in the โwrong place and wrong time,โ said he is committed to moving forward: โAt the end of the day, the grind donโt stop, bro. I ainโt want nobody [to] feel sorry for me.โ
He continued: โPeople get shot every day, bro. Like Iโm blessed. I can keep pushing, so why would I just sit down?โ
Times staff writers Tracy Brown and Clara Harter contributed to this report.