Injured Drake postpones tour dates

Rapper Drake is "crushed" after having to postpone three upcoming tour dates due to an ankle injury.

The One Dance star took to his October's Very Own blog on Wednesday (05Oct16) to break the news to fans, revealing he has been playing through the pain of a busted ankle to honor shows on his joint Summer Sixteen Tour with Future.

However, the injury has yet to properly heal, and now doctors have warned Drake he needs to rest his foot in order to fully bounce back.

Apologizing to fans, he writes in a statement, "We are over 50 shows in and I have done everything to power through my recent ankle injury and leave it all out there on the stage every night.

"I hate to be told I can't do something, but under doctor's orders to allow me time to recuperate I am being forced to postpone the intense three shows in a row in cities which have only ever shown me unconditional support."

The affected concerts had been due to take place in his native Toronto, Canada, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Newark, New Jersey in the coming days.

"I am crushed to even be typing this announcement because I feel like I am letting my fans in these cities down," he continues. "I only want to give you the best show you deserve, I promise - I will make it up to you."

He concludes, "Thank you for your understanding and I can't wait to see you all again with new music and a stronger ankle."

Drake has not revealed how he suffered the injury, but he will press on with scheduled gigs in Chicago, Illinois on Wednesday night (05Oct16), and Montreal, Canada on Friday (07Oct16).

It is not yet clear which of Drake's two hometown gigs in Toronto or the pair of shows in Newark will be delayed, but he appears to still be on course to play a double date at Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center on 11 and 12 October (16).

The Summer Sixteen Tour kicked off in July (16) and had been due to wrap in Newark on 16 October (16).