Live Review

Drake – Apollo, Manchester

• 18th Jan 2011

Part of Lil Wayne’s juggernaut Young Money, Toronto native Drake was the success story of 2010, his album ‘Thank Me Later’ was platinum selling and his collaboration with Rihanna is currently number 1 on the UK Top 40. Starting 2011 with a bang Drizzy Drake rolled into Manchester with considerable swagger, the atmosphere in the Apollo was already electric following a terrific warm up from my tip for 2011, J. Cole when the main man took to the stage to his track ‘Forever’.

Drizzy is a versatile artist and most of his songs combine his ability to rap with his passion for singing. It is his rapping though where Drake really excels. His sound is so crisp and studio like that you can sometimes forget that you were at a live show. With two shows in the Manchester Apollo this week it’s fair to say he could have sold out the MEN Arena, which for a Hip-Hop artist who is at the beginning of his journey is quite a feat.

The production of the show was amazing too. In smaller venue artists sometimes neglect the production of a show but not Drake, the live band was soulful, there was a violin player and a sweet backing singer. The height of the production set was when Drake performed his track ‘Fireworks’. Real fireworks shot across the stage and Drake, using his acting capabilities (he once starred in a TV show called Degrassi, where he played Jimmy the high school basketball star, who following being shot by a classmate was wheel-chair bound) cut and emotional figure.

The show was not all good though. A common theme when certain rappers perform is they forget about their male fans in the audience. I appreciated how Drake spoke about how he got to where he is now and about what he wants for the future, this is called making a connection with the crowd, but I didn’t like the way he spent, must be around 20 minutes of the total show massaging his ego. Drizzy explained in graphic detail what he wanted to do to girls, how he does it and even described his signature move…the Drizzy 3 Stroke. Not that the ladies were complaining and if I was a successful rapper I might do the same but you know, time and a place Drake.

Drake also ran through his catalogue of cameo’s which included number 1 ‘What’s My Name’ and my personal favourite ‘Money To Blow’. When Drake concentrated on delivering his bangers the crowd was in unison and the venue was rocking. After closing with a few Young Money hits the show was brought to an end with the lyrically brilliant ‘Over’. The live band was amazing on this one and Drake’s quick fire verses rounded off the gig of 2011, well best so far; you can thank me now,.. ok you can thank me later instead.