Photo of Drake by Ollie Millington

Drake says he was left "disheartened, emotional and truly scared" after seeing video of Baton Rouge resident Alton Sterling being shot to death by police.

In an open letter posted Wednesday evening on Instagram, the Toronto rapper said he is "grateful to call America my second home" but he "woke up this morning with a strong need to say something."

Sterling's death has sparked outrage since a bystander video surfaced Tuesday night capturing his deadly encounter with police, who pinned the 37-year-old black man to the ground and then shot him dead.

"It's impossible to ignore that the relationship between black and brown communities and law enforcement remains as strained as it was decades ago," Drake wrote. "This is real and I'm concerned. Concerned for the safety of my family, my friends, and any human being that could fall victim to this pattern."

Reaction to Sterling's death has been swift, as Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and local officials have promised a quick and transparent investigation, while the Department of Justice earlier today opened its own civil rights probe.