Ice Spice recently talked about what it was like to be at Drake’s Apollo Theater show last weekend. While the two rappers’ public camaraderie fell under scrutiny for some alleged rifts, it seems things are cool. Moreover, in an interview with Hot 97, the “Bikini Bottom” MC spoke about her experience going to Drizzy’s concert.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 20: Ice Spice attends The Ned on January 20, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
“You were up at the Drake show at the Apollo,” Ebro said. “From New York, seeing him create that at the Apollo, what was that like for you, that scene? And did he invite you up?”
“Yeah, he did,” Ice Spice replied. “It was a vibe, I’m not gonna lie. The whole crowd was, like, mostly influencers and, like, celebrities. So it was, like, a good vibe. Nobody was too fanned out, everybody was just focused on the show, right? It was crazy, it was so intimate, I loved it. He was performing all his hits, you know. It was a vibe.“
“How often do you guys get to speak?” Ebro asked. “I don’t know if he actually took a shot at you, or you just embraced what people were saying.”
“He didn’t, we spoke about it,” she replied. “He said that was not about me.”
“But you embraced it on social media, like, yo, ‘At least I’m a ten, though,’ or something,” the host inquired.
“Yeah, and he also appreciated that too, you know?” the MC responded. “Just being cool about it, not being no weirdo… We just linked up when my s**t dropped, when Like..? dropped. He was in the city already, I guess for, like, his shows or whatever. We ended up linking up, and we was just chatting. Like, we Gucci, bro.”
“That’s good, it’s moving slow with you, I like that,” Ebro joked, to which Spice replied “Stop it.”
Regardless, what do you think of Ice Spice’s comments about Drake’s performance at the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem? However you may feel, let us know in the comments down below if you would’ve loved a ticket. Also, as always, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest on Drake, Ice Spice, and more noteworthy link-ups in the game.
Drake had New York City on lock last weekend during his back-to-back concerts at the Apollo. The rapper pulled out all of the stops during the show. He recreated his childhood bedroom and brought out special guests like 21 Savage, Lil Uzi Vert, and Dipset.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: Drake and The Diplomats aka Dipset perform on stage during Drake Live From The Apollo Theater for SiriusXM and Sound 42 at The Apollo Theater on January 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
The rapper had been spotted in the city in the week leading up to the show. However, he paid a hefty amount for his stay. Per PageSix, the rapper rented out a room at one of the most expensive hotel in North America that reportedly costs $75K a night.
While Drake was in town for the highly-anticipated shows, the rapper used the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones. He rented out the members-only Casa Cruz in the Upper East Side for a party after one performance. Following the other show, he took a few friends out to eat at the Cucina Alba in Chelsea.
“He pulled out all the stops with food, drink and gifts to thank them all for their unwavering support over the years,’ an insider told the publication. “It was extremely exclusive.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: Drake performs on stage at The Apollo Theater on January 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
However, the Her Loss rapper’s hotel room was just as accommodating for a small group of friends as any restaurant. His $75K a night room at the Mark Hotel is the most expensive room in all of North America. The room was equipped with 10,000 square feet of space. The hotel also included five bedrooms, six bathrooms, four fireplaces, a steam room, and an expansive dining room that could host 24 people. Additionally, the balcony also boasted an incredible view.
His friends also stayed at the same hotel that weekend.
Lola Brooke is set for a huge breakout in 2023 and now, she’s been anointed by the Queen Bee herself. The Brooklyn rapper — Brooke, not Kim — has the streets buzzing with her viral single “Don’t Play With It,” and many believe she’s poised to have a similar explosion in popularity to GloRilla or fellow drill rapper Ice Spice this year.
“I’m so proud of you, baby,” Kim told her as she emerged from backstage. “I got your f*ckin’ back!” Brooke followed up the exchange of mutual appreciation with an acapella rendition of her street hit, accompanied by what sounds very much like a full-crowd sing-along.
Na Lola Brooke really made it. Lil Kim just brought her out to the Apolllo holy shittttt pic.twitter.com/IA44y1Ja1C
Judging from the reactions to her appearance at the Apollo, all Lola Brooke needs to complete her rap takeover is to remain consistent. She already has the ears and hearts of her hometown — and to quote one of her peers, with that, how can she lose?
The New York Police Department (NYPD) just released footage they took of Drake’s shows at the Apollo Theater. Moreover, the footage centers of the security, organization, and general workflow behind the show. While hundreds were in awe of one of the 6 God’s first performances in a while, the efforts of hundreds behind-the-scenes can’t be forgotten.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 22: 21 Savage and Drake perform on stage during Drake Live From The Apollo Theater for SiriusXM and Sound 42 at The Apollo Theater on January 22, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Furthermore, the video opens with a shot of the Apollo Theater from the outside, panning out of a police officer’s shirt with “NYPD Community Affairs” on the back. Throughout the first few clips, you can hear fans screaming and clapping for the OVO kingpin. Also, they include a time-lapse of police arriving, setting up barricades, and welcoming concert-goers into the venue.
Then, the whole video reverses and the timeline rewinds to a couple of days before the two scheduled shows sponsored by SiriusXM. Later, the video shows a room full of police as an officer gives instructions on the events.
“All right, everybody, so you know what we got coming up,” the officer began. “We got two nights of Drake, one of the most well-known artists in the world. It’s going to bring out a lot of people and a lot of talents. The people are coming and going for this concert, and the artists expect to be safe. So, the byline is we’re going to do what we do best: we’re going to keep people safe.
“When you go out there, make sure you take your post,” he continued. “Make sure you be vigilant, but also be community-friendly and make sure people know how to get where they’re going safely and get out of there safely. This is our chance to shine as well as the artist, right? They in Harlem, they in the 28th Precinct, and this is what we do, right? So let’s have a good night, let’s have a safe night, and again, if anybody need anything, let me know.
“This is why people feel comfortable coming to New York City for major events,” the video concludes. “Because they have confidence in you. Now let’s get ready for the next one.”
Throughout the video, you can hear Marvin Gaye’s classic “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler).” Also, the video shows clips of the show, people coming in, police officers assisting civilians, and generally keeping the peace.
Still, what did you think of the NYPD’s footage from Drake’s shows at the Apollo Theater? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments and check out the promotional piece for yourself down below. Also, as always, check back in with HNHH for the latest concert footage, performance moments, and events in the game.
Given… well… most of the news stories about the NYPD’s overreach over the past few years (decades?), this naturally worried fans that the footage the officer was obtaining could be used to nefarious ends.
However, fans can rest easy (I am being ridiculously sarcastic here, by the way) now that the NYPD has released a statement assuring citizens and visitors that the video is for a future Twitter post. “The officer depicted in the video is a Community Affairs officer involved with the 28th Precinct’s social media team,” it reads, via Rolling Stone. “The officer was taking a video for an upcoming Twitter post that will highlight local community events. The video will not be utilized for any other reason.”
That failed to reassure some privacy advocates, though, as Gothamist highlighted with a quote from Surveillance Technology Oversight Project communications director Will Owen.
“This is yet another example of NYPD’s racist use of surveillance technology, following the department’s long legacy of targeting rap concerts,” he said. “We’re deeply concerned facial recognition may have been involved, and demand the department destroy any footage it took. This is the latest proof that the city and state must ban its use at venues once and for all.”
Drake gave a major shout-out to Erykah Badu on his Instagram Story on Monday night. He praised the legendary singer as his “eternal spirit animal.”
Drake’s comment came in response to a post from Badu, who had shared a headline labeling the Toronto singer “the voice of a generation.” She added, “cause he is @champagnepapi.”
“My eternal spirit animal has spoken, ” Drake replied to the post, adding several emojis.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Erykah Badu performs at The Royal Festival Hall on November 05, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Burak Cingi/Redferns)
Drake wrapped up his second show at the Apollo Theater on Sunday night. Over the course of the weekend, he performed songs from throughout his career. He also welcomed several noteworthy guests to the stage. Among them were Lil Uzi Vert, Dipset, and his Her Loss collaborator, 21 Savage.
During his performance for Saturday’s show, Drake teased working on a new album for the audience.
“I appreciate all of those people that stick by me.… but I deeply appreciate everybody for continuing to support us,” he said. “I’ve thought about a bunch of things in life, but at this moment in time none of those things are stopping making music for you, so I’ll be here for you for a little bit at least. And I hope I can strike up more emotions for you, maybe this year. I might get bored and make another one, who knows!”
Drake also confirmed that he’ll be going on tour with 21 Savage over the summer. The dates for the tour had leaked online beforehand.
“I was telling them earlier but.. ff you guys enjoy that experience, feel free to come see and my brother this Summer,” he said.
Check out Drake and Erykah Badu’s interaction on Instagram below.
Drake made history with his recent show at Apollo Theater in New York, returning to the stage for the first time in 2023. The Toronto native has an endless catalog of hit records, but this wasn’t just a regular concert… this is the East Coast, which means legendary hip-hop acts are in store for the evening.
A standout moment includes when he brought Dipset to the stage, even rocking Cam’ron’s pink fur coat and matching hat. Drizzy then handed the microphones over to Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and Freekey Zekey as they performed “I Really Mean It,” “Dipset Anthem,” and “We Fly High (Ballin’).” Drake even praised them, stating, ” These guys from Harlem made us dress different, talk different, walk different, rap different — all the way in Canada.”
But the show didn’t just take place with no hiccups. TMZ recently unveiled a video of a fan that fell from the upstairs balcony right into the crowd underneath.
About 90 minutes into his set, someone is seen falling from the mezzanine and into the swarm of fans on the floor level. At this moment, Drake’s back was turned, and he was unaware of what had just happened. A few seconds later, a staff member runs onto the stage to inform him of the news.
Drake subsequently pauses the show, telling crowd-goers, “Just gotta make sure somebody’s okay.”
The individual was a 26-year-old male who was allegedly intoxicated. He was later taken to a hospital nearby in Harlem. While no severe injuries were incurred, the show took 15 minutes to resume, mainly because a lighting fixture was damaged during his fall.
A rep for the Apollo Theater stated, “the fan and other audience members reported that they were okay. No major injuries have been reported.”
On a positive note, the show drew in celebrity sightings from the who’s who in the industry, including Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber, A$AP Ferg, Ice Spice, Kevin Durant, Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Rubin, and more.
Drake also brought out 21 Savage as a guest appearance, with multiple hit records, including “Mr. Right Now” and fan favorite “Rich Flex.”
New York City residents descended on the Apollo Theater for two unforgettable evenings watching Drake perform. The OVO icon also brought out a few friends to help him celebrate his appearances, including Dipset and 21 Savage. However, it was the New York Police Department who stole the show.
A viral video showed officers outside the venue filming attendees as they exited. Immediately, it was circulated that the officers were using face recognition software to apprehend any potential suspects of crimes.
The news caused a firestorm of backlash as people once again questioned the NYPD’s methods. Mayor Eric Adams was also at the concert and was seen with Jim Jones in the rapper’s dressing room backstage.
Additionally, to quell any misconceptions about their presence at Drake’s show, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information issued a statement to Consequence.
“The officer depicted in the video is a Community Affairs officer involved with the 28th Precinct’s social media team,” they said. “The officer was taking video for an upcoming Twitter post that will highlight local community events. The video will not be utilized for any other reason.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: Drake performs on stage at The Apollo Theater on January 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Further, a reporter for the NY Daily News also shared comments allegedly made by Mayor Adams. When asked about the controversy, Adams reportedly said, “Twitter is not real.”
Further, Of those who criticized the NYPD filming citizens at the concert, Adams stated, “Let them keep complaining.”
Check out a few more images from the Apollo Theater event below.
“Twitter is not real,” @NYCMayor says when asked of social media criticism over this video showing NYPD officers filming people leaving this weekend’s Drake concert in Harlem.
He says it was a good NYPD community affairs initiative & says of critics: “Let them keep complaining” https://t.co/MTO9DEBRzk
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: Atmosphere at Drake Live from Apollo at The Apollo Theater on January 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: Drake and The Diplomats aka Dipset perform on stage during Drake Live From The Apollo Theater for SiriusXM and Sound 42 at The Apollo Theater on January 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SiriusXM)NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: Drake and 21 Savage performs on stage at The Apollo Theater on January 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Jim Jones says that he met up with NYC mayor Eric Adams during Drake’s recent concert at the Apollo Theater. Sharing a video of their introduction, Jones explained that he’s planning on meeting up again with Adams to discuss issues affecting Harlem at length.
“Got th chance to meet th @nycmayor,” Jones began in a caption for the video. “Got a call from a friend said he was comin to Th concert last night and he wanted to stop by my dressing to meet me.”
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 25: Jim Jones attends Stage 48 on June 25, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
He continued: “Very fly I thought to myself. I also thought to myself how can I make this introduction th most impactful.”
“This my first time meetin any mayor from ny,” Jones further said. “And he’s a black mayor which I’m a very proud to see someone who looks like me in a position of power and is takin th steps to help turn th city round from experience and political position.”
“I’m not th most politically correct by I know politics as usual,” Jones said.
From there, Jones admitted that not every problem can be fixed overnight. However, he is hoping for a step in the right direction.
“Harlem ur always on my mind n in my heart,” he concluded. “But I’m 1 person we gotta do it together each one teach one.”
In the video, Adams and Jones introduce themselves and exchange contact information.
Jones was in attendance at the Apollo Theater concert to be brought out as a member of Dipset by Drake. The Toronto artist also welcomed his Her Loss partner 21 Savage, as well as Lil Uzi Vert to the stage over the weekend.
Check out Jim Jones’ Instagram post featuring Eric Adams below.
Drake’sperformance at Apollo Theater with Sirius XM wasn’t something to do for the hell of it, though it might’ve seem that way at first. Throughout the night, it was quite clear that, despite everything he’s done, there was something he needed to accomplish in Harlem. When the curtains rose for the night and the show got underway, Drake’s presence on stage was of course the first thing that caught the attention of fans, but an equally attention-grabbing aspect was the stage design Drake had to begin the show. Through introductory performances of “Over My Dead Body” and “Wu-Tang Forever,” Drake, wearing a “Degrassi” jersey, sat on a bed in a makeshift room equipped with a space heater, nightstand, lamp, and more. “I wanted to make this a show about gratitude,” Drake said to the audience. “This is a little story that we put together. My deep love for my family, for my dear friends, and for each and every one of you who have been supporting me for a long time.” He continued, “This is my bedroom in my mom’s basement where I wrote a lot of new songs… I’m gonna play you some of the sh*t that got us out of here.”
Many, including myself, entered the night under the presumption that the Apollo show would be a night dedicated to the deep cuts that Drake fans hold near and dear to their heart. Maybe this is because it’s a perfect option for the intimacy that Apollo allows artists to take advantage of or maybe we hoped that Drake would do what artists who live in his realm of magnitude have done before (i.e. Jay-Z’s 2015 and 2019 B-Side shows at Manhattan’s Terminal 5). In the end, Drake’s night at Apollo was much more than a show for deep cuts, but in its early moments, it seemed like that was what we were getting. “Over My Dead Body” and “Wu-Tang Forever” turned into “Trust Issues” and his hook from Timbaland’s “Say Something.” Fan favorites “Practice,” “Jaded,” and “Jungle” also appeared in the opening act of the night. Drake exited the stage and returned to a new stage design: an office desk, office chairs with a “record executive” seated in one of them, and a backdrop of skyscrapers reminiscent of New York City. “There’s some dumbass record labels out here,” Drake said flippantly. “That’s what this scene is about; it’s me trying to grind my ass off and let people know that I’m not in a wheelchair in real life [and that] Canadians can make music.”
For this Act II, Drake resorted to the records that made Jimmy Brooks an afterthought and proved that Canadians can indeed make music. Monster hits in his discography (“Nonstop,” “Started From The Bottom,” and “God’s Plan”) and iconic guest verses (“Forever,” “I’m On One,” and “No New Friends”) received airtime during this part of the show. At just the halfway mark, Drake successfully reminded the crowd of the journey that not only took him out of his mother’s basement, but made him the golden child of the music industry. Drake made note of the past, and for the remainder of the night, he inched closer and closer to the present with a few exceptions. He continued with a third act that swapped the record label office setup for an emptier stage design that focused on special effect lighting. Here, chart-toppers like “One Dance” and “In My Feelings” were accompanied by records that showcased his versatility like “Hold On We’re Going Home” and “Passionfruit” and paired with his recent hits “Way 2 Sexy” and “Sticky.”
Dimitrios Kambouris
Drake’s night at Apollo was undoubtedly a bucket list moment for him. During a late 2019 interview with Rap Radar, he was asked whether or not he’d ever do a b-sides show. “I would love to,” he replied. “We’ve talked about maybe doing an unplugged with all the records that I never usually perform. I think it would be great. I think it would also showcase how serious I take performing as well.” Three years later, Drake had his moment to prove just that, and he also used it to pay homage to Harlem and an influence from his childhood in the best way that he could. Act IV began with a makeshift Harlem bodega on stage, perfect for the introduction of Dipset to Apollo, who had a similar bodega built for their 2003 Source Awards performance. “I Really Mean It,” “Dipset Anthem,” and “We Fly High” were performed as Jim Jones, Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, and Freekey Zekey took over the stage. Drake, who was rocking the Cam’ron’s iconic pink mink, stood in the background smiling from ear to ear. In the rapper’s own words, the moment with Dipset meant more to him than any award could have simply because of the influence the group had on him. “These guys right here from Harlem made us dress different, talk different, walk different, rap different all the way in Canada,” he noted.
Dimitrios Kambouris
The night concluded with the final act that featured an appearance from 21 Savage, who joined his new rap partner in crime to perform “Knife Talk” “Jimmy Crooks,” and a pair of songs from Her Loss with the “Apollo” logo brandished behind them. The rappers’ chemistry was on full display as 21 Savage thanked Drake for supporting his career and growth from their first meeting back in 2015. Both rappers made it clear that their friendship is about more than music, it was built from that commonality to find other ones. Additionally, with a joint tour announcement around the corner, it gave the audience comforting promise of what’s to come when the duo hits the road.
Drake’s performance at Apollo Theater with SiriusXM concluded without so many records that would’ve been perfect for the night: “Cameras,” “Come Thru,” “Too Much,” “The Ride,” “Do Not Disturb,” “How Bout Now,” and “4PM In Calabasas,” just to name a few. Despite this, as fans, leaving the night with some level of disappointment would be a bit greedy on our part, especially considering the night’s theme of gratitude. I couldn’t help but perceive the night as a victory lap moment for Drake. The checking off the bucket list objective of it all was quite obvious, but beneath that, stood a man on a stage who is grateful for his accomplishments and supporters. For some years now, Drake has sought new challenges for himself to keep the fire alive as his longstanding title as rap’s king has started to lose its shine in his eyes. He makes this clear on “Is There More?” from Scorpion. “I mean you know I love a challenge, but challenged by who?” he ponders all to later rap, “Am I missin’ somethin’ that’s more important to find? / Like healin’ my soul, like family time / Is there more to life than just when I’m feelin’ alive?”
This night at Apollo Theater is seemingly one example of the more that Drake has searched for over the last half-decade. For his first act of 2023, Drake fulfilled the tradition of excelling in the legendary building on W 125th St. Furthermore, he lived up to his own legend with a loose journey through a career that reached levels of superstardom untouched by most. The end is probably a distance away for Drake, but the beginning of the end is maybe closer than we believe. When that time comes, let us not forgot the heights he reached to make it out of his mother’s basement and continuously “strike up more emotions” for his vast fan base, something he said he may do again in the near or distant future.
pic.twitter.com/VjKoapngm4
holy shittttt 
