Rapper Offset has spoken publicly for the first time about his recovery following a shooting incident outside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, earlier this month. The 34-year-old artist appeared on the "Creators Inc. Podcast" on Thursday, April 23, where he detailed his resilience and commitment to his music career despite the recent violence.
"You've got to keep pushing like the Energizer Bunny, man," Offset stated during the interview. "Keep this s*** pushing. Don't got time to be slowing down."
The musician's determination was evident in his actions immediately following the April 6 shooting. Less than one week after the incident, Offset traveled from Los Angeles for work commitments and appeared on stage for a concert on April 12. He described the logistics of making that journey while still recovering from his injuries.
"You got to go G6 — G5, sorry. Had them bring the bed out, lay on that thing for six hours, go to sleep," Offset explained. "You cool."
During the podcast appearance, Offset confirmed that he has been actively working on new music while in Los Angeles. The artist revealed plans to release an album in the coming months, though no specific date has been set.
"I'm trying to drop soon. Couple months from now. I don't got no date yet, but getting the creative and all s*** to go together," he said. "Removing songs, making new songs, just off life because all my s*** always be off of life experiences. You know what I mean? What happens in my real life, I just put it in my music."
The shooting incident has intensified Offset's focus on his creative work. He described himself as "locked in" on the music and credited what he calls a "gladiator mentality" for helping him maintain his mental fortitude in the aftermath of the traumatic event.
"The show don't ever stop at the end of the day. I was blessed enough to be able to still move, you know what I mean? So, I'm still moving," Offset continued. "I didn't really have a checklist for it."
The rapper acknowledged that the incident has prompted him to reevaluate certain aspects of his life and career. He suggested that some of his previous activities had become distractions from his core mission as an artist.
"All the other s*** was just, like, distractions and just getting in the way of just doing s***," he said. "Being places — wrong places, wrong time. But we here, man. I'm pushing, man, at the end of the day. The grind don't stop."
Offset was emphatic about not wanting sympathy from his fans or the public. He placed his own experience in the broader context of gun violence affecting communities across the country.
"I don't want nobody feel sorry for me or no s*** like that. People get shot every day, bro, like, I'm blessed. I can keep pushing, so why would I just sit down? I got to keep pushing. I got to keep going," he stated.
According to Offset's spokesperson, who confirmed details to Complex, the shooting occurred outside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The FBI has launched an investigation into the incident. Offset initially broke his silence on the shooting in a statement shared with Us Weekly on April 10, expressing gratitude for the support he received and outlining his focus on family, recovery, and returning to music.
The artist's rapid return to public appearances and his commitment to his upcoming album demonstrate a professional determination that has characterized much of his career. As he continues his recovery, Offset appears focused on channeling his recent experiences into his creative work, maintaining that his music has always drawn from real-life events.