Drake review — lifeless, repetitive and depressingly dull
It clearly doesn't matter to his fans that he lost the feud with Kendrick Lamar earlier this year after the latter won five Grammys for his diss track Not Like Us, or that Drake's recent album with fellow Canadian PartyNextDoor, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, received dismal reviews. Close to fifty thousand Gen Zers had their phones out, ready to record and repeat all the lyrics about sex and cash in a set that was depressingly dull until the final 20 minutes.
Since he had three days to play with, Drake mistakenly decided to split each one into themes instead of playing his reliable bangers. The first night was dedicated to R&B, a genre he dabbled with in his early music. Songs included half of Marvins Room and Teenage Fever, with any romance tainted by his choice of outfit: a bullet-proof vest emblazoned with the word 'testosterone'. It all felt a bit lifeless and repetitive — even when he did do a hit: Passionfruit — until he brought out some guests, especially Mario, who injected much-needed energy with his 2004 signature song Let Me Love You.
• Drake and PartyNextDoor: $ome $exy $ongs 4 U review — half-hearted dross
This energy was quickly sapped again by PartyNextDoor who had opened the set (25 minutes late) and then reappeared to do some more deadening duets with Drake. The antithesis of charismatic, he spent most of his time inexplicably waving around a towel, ignoring his dancers in black underwear and boots who were strutting about. How this section counted as 'a celebration of R&B' is beyond me.
Finally a reprieve arrived with Nokia — a funky tune that actually gets people dancing. Then Drake did his crane thing as fireworks exploded. But that wasn't it: Lauryn Hill showed up three minutes before curfew (as usual) and set off on some exhilarating rapping and singing, dressed in a regal gown. But, though Drake protested, the sound was cut off — even he can't fight local council noise rules. If only PartyNextDoor hadn't started late; or better yet, hadn't come at all.★★☆☆☆
Touring to Aug 4, drakerelated.com
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