Live Review: Drake, 2 Chainz

It’s been six long years that we’ve waited to witness Drake, aka Drizzy, aka Champagne Papi, live in Australia. The floor is already packed to the brim for support act, 2 Chainz, where tracks like I’m Different and Birthday Song set the crowd off. He even busts out Lil Jon’s Turn Down For What to maximize party vibes, and we’re feeling it.

When Drake does arrive, he’s all guns blazing, as are the pyrotechnic fire cannons shooting off behind him onstage. Best I Ever Had has all the ladies questioning where their pants went, as well as melting everyone’s hearts by declaring that he’s not here to change our lives, but asks to be a part of them. Swooning ensues.

Drake is keen to test out the crowd on the Drizzy knowledge, watching and listening closely to the crowd recite Successful back to him word for word. He is suitably impressed. He’s briefly joined on stage with fellow OVO [OVO Sound, Drake's label] artist OB Obrien, before launching into Headlines. From the get go Drake is eating up the stage, addressing every corner of the crowd and singling out members to sing to directly. The intensity is impressive.

After a quick t-shirt change Drake brings it down a notch and allows his vocals to shine with Come Thru. A hectic drum solo preludes Take Care and there’s not a still body in the house. 

And then, Drake flies. For real.

And then, Drake flies. For real. He jumps on a suspended podium and floats over the crowd, to reach a smoke-machine fueled stage in the middle of general admission. As Drake flies overhead he gives shout outs to the people he sees below: “To the guy holding the Canadian flag, I see you. To the guy wearing the Raptors jersey, I see you.” He’s taking it all in, and he doesn’t miss a thing.

Once on the new stage he serenades the crowd with Marvin’s Room and an extended version of Hold On, We’re Going Home. Drake mentions numerous times tonight how this is one of the greatest crowds he has ever performed to. While we would normally take exclamations like this with a pinch of salt, the crowd tonight is wall-to-wall diehard fans, which clearly pleases Drake to no end.

He tells us to fuck all the haters.

Once returned to the main stage, Drake throws himself into 0 To 100, and brings 2 Chainz back up for All Me, where Drake spits the most hectic verse of the night. Outstandingly, Drake received word today that every song from his latest release, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, is currently charting on Billboard in the USA. To celebrate, he tells us to fuck all the haters and smashes Energy, before finishing up with the outstanding Started From The Bottom. All hail Drizzy, the self-proclaimed legend and damn fine showman. Please return to us soon.