New York — It’s easy to forget just how many hits Drake has produced in his nearly 15-year music career. But he played an intimate concert at his Apollo theater in Harlem on Saturday, a strong reminder that it was his first ever show at the legendary venue.
During the performance, the four-time Grammy Award winner hinted that new music could be released despite releasing two albums last year.
“I’ve thought a lot in my life, but at this point, none of them have stopped me from making music for you,” Drake told the doting crowd. , I wish I could stir up more emotions for you, but I might get bored and make another one.”
The first night of two Apollo weekend shows from SiriusXM featured the 36-year-old ripping songs at a frantic pace. Most of it was just verses and choruses. Some are only familiar with his No. 1 hits. The recorded performance will air on Drake’s SiriusXM Sound 42 channel in the coming weeks.
This was his first show in about five years, and he later said, “There’s been a lot of outings this year.” said.
Drake said, “I wanted this to be an appreciative show. This is a little story that we put together. My family, my dear friends, and each and every one of you who have supported me over the past year.” A deep love for a long time.”
Wearing cornrows in baggy jeans and a blue-and-yellow Jimmy Brooks basketball jersey — a nod to his time as an actor on the teen drama series Degrassi — Drake appeared as a celebrity guest such as Justin in “Over My Dead.” Body” started the performance. And Hailey Bieber, former NBA MVP and current Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, NFL star Odell Beckham Jr., rapper A$AP Ferg, and a boogie wit da hoodie watched.
Sitting on a bed positioned to the right of the stage, Drake said he modeled his songs on his mother’s basement bedroom in Toronto, writing “Wu-Tang Forever,” “Trust Matters,” “Practice,” and “Feel No Ways”.
He also sang his most popular deep cut, “Marvin’s Room.” Standing after his room-only crowd joined him word for word, he transitioned from Timbaland’s “Say Something” to his hook as the beat of “Marvin’s Room” continued.
As the bedroom set dimmed and the lights moved to the left of the stage to reveal the boardroom, Drake changed into a black leather hoodie with OVO’s owl symbol. The rapper skeptically stated that it was “interesting” for him to be a rapper from Canada as he stood in front of the performers playing the label execs, before stating, “Okay, you got what you got.” Let’s see,’ he said. (Drake later reminded the crowd how every major New York record label had passed on him.)
Beginning with the R&B blockbuster “Best I Ever Had” that kick-started his career, the headlines, “HYFR,” “Started From the Bottom,” and “I’m On One.” , Nevermind Project’s “Massive,” “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” “One Dance,” “Passionfruit,” and “In My Feelings.”
The final leg of the 90-minute set kicked off with a surprise performance by popular early 2000s Harlem rap collective The Diplomats, featuring Drake in Cam’ron’s signature pink hoodie and headband. . He then joined up with 21 Savage to perform songs like “Rich Flex,” “Spin Bout You,” and “Knife Talk,” from their joint project “Her Loss,” which was released in November.
Apollo’s longstanding catchphrase is “Where stars are born, legends are born!” So it was either strategic or accidental that he closed out the show with “Legends.” It may be too early to cover him with the legendary moniker that Apollo Walk of Fame icons like Michael Jackson, Prince and Aretha Franklin James Brown have, but he’s on track. There is no doubt that progress is being made.