Drake has staged a surprise mini-set during dancehall legend Vybz Kartel’s first concert in Toronto – watch below.
Kartel’s just played his first show at the Scotiabank Arena on Sunday (October 26), which was presented with the help of Drake’s OVO. But to the crowd’s surprise, Drake also joined Kartel onstage to perform a mini-set during the show.
Drake told Kartel of his own personal connection to his music, recalling: “I used to hand out flyers outside of a club called Escape just to go inside to the club and listen to your tunes,” Drake said. “So one more time, please as a city, as a family make some motherfucking noise.”
He went on to perform an eight-song set, which included some of his most well known tunes. ‘One Dance’ and ‘Controlla’ are Drake’s dancehall-inspired hits which made the cut; other songs included ‘Hotline Bling’, ‘Rich Baby Daddy’, ‘Which One’, ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’, ‘Signs’ and ‘Nokia’.
Drake finished his set by telling Kartel: “We’ve been rocking and praying and hoping for this day. So, I hope you understand tonight is not just about music. Tonight is not just about seeing two artists.
“Welcome home — we’re so grateful and happy to have you. You shaped all of our lives. Trust me, especially out here.” Watch fan-filmed footage of Drake’s mini-set below:
Kartel is currently embarking on his first run of shows since he was freed from a 13-year stint in prison after winning the appeal of his murder conviction and life sentence. The singer was found guilty of murdering Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams in 2014.
Since then, he has performed with Drake at his three-day Wireless takeover. NME gave the overall takeover three stars, but praised Kartel’s performance: “Jamaican pride swelled in the park earlier in the day as fans witnessed the king of dancehall, Vybz Kartel, perform in London for the first time in 20 years, live-debuting bashment classics ‘Clarks’ and ‘Romping Shop’ with Popcaan and Spice, respectively”.
Elsewhere, Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ has enjoyed a streaming spike after Drake’s defamation suit was dropped.
