ovo-fest

The Best Moments From Drake’s All Canadian North Stars Show

by
Image via Will Orellana
  • Image via ofthesaint

    Drake pays tribute to Sidhu Moose Wala

  • Image via ofthesaint

    Drake pays tribute to the architects of Toronto’s hip-hop scene

  • Image via Will Orellana

    Shawn Desman shows us how we rock it in the T-Dot

  • Image via Will Orellana

    Drake joins k-os to perform “Headlines”

  • Image via Wil Orellana

    Jully Black dominates the stage

  • Image via Will Orellana

    Drake introduces Keshia Chanté: ‘My first girlfriend I ever had in my life’

  • Image via Will Orellana

    Saukrates powers through


  • Drake sings “I’m Like a Bird” with Nelly Furtado

  • Image via Will Orellana

    ‘It’s national anthem time’

Drake Brought Out Nelly Furtado At His Concert In Toronto To Sing ‘I’m Like A Bird’ With Her

by
drake toronto
Getty Image

Drake is living his MTV millennial dreams lately. After joining the Backstreet Boys on stage to perform their hit song “I Want It That Way” alongside the late-90s/early-aughts icons, Drake brought another 2000s hitmaker to his All Canadian North Stars stage last night.

This time, it was fellow Canadian star Nelly Furtado (now there’s a name I haven’t heard in years *puffs on a cigarette*), whose Grammy-winning 2000 song “I’m Like A Bird” was as ubiquitous in that year as any of Drake’s songs are now. And yes, Drake put his whole soul into it, insisting that, at least for one night, he wasn’t a rapper but a fan. As one commenter put it, “this is Canadian history.”

The All Canadian North Stars lineup was just night one of Drake’s October World Weekend, a three-day festival at his Toronto venue History. Coming up next is a reunion show with Chris Brown (meh) and a Young Money reunion show with Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj (yay!). The OWW (one letter short, Jimmy) is Drake’s way of making up for the lack of an OVO Fest proper since he’s turning that show into a world tour for 2023. While Nelly Furtado was a surprise guest, The Boy’s billed performers included Canadian rap pioneers like Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, and k-os, who all helped pave the way for Drake himself to have a flourishing career stateside.

Meanwhile, he’s having the time of his life NOT being a rapper, partying to cuts from his new album Honestly, Nevermind in Ibiza

Drake Announced The Night One Lineup For The October World Weekend Fest

by
drake gambling
Getty Image

Drake has big plans for the return of his OVO Fest. In a recent Instagram post, the Toronto fixture said, “I am currently working on bringing OVO FEST around the world in 2023 for the 10th Anniversary. But of course, we wanted to turn the city up for the summer!!!” Enter October World Weekend, a mini-festival of sorts at History Toronto that is being dubbed as part of the October World Weekend Tour. Drake has Lil Baby and Chris Brown playing on Friday, July 29th and Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and a full blown Young Money Reunion on Monday, August 1— ’cause what is a weekend anyway [Editor’s note: August 1 is Civic Holiday in Toronto, and is known by many other names throughout Canada]? But now, the “Jimmy Crooks” rapper has announced the lineup for Thursday’s big kick-off and it tips a cap to The Six, of course.

The night one lineup for October World Fest on Thursday, July 28 is what Drake calls the All Canadian Northstars. In a separate Instagram post, Drake said the lineup is, “A celebration of the music that paved the way for all of us.” Canadian hip-hop lifers on the bill include Choclair, Frank-N-Dank, Keshia Chanté, K-Os, Glenn Lewis, Maestro French Wes, Rascalz, In Essence, Jully Black, Saukrates, Kardinal Offishall, and Shawn Desman. There are also more special guests that have yet to be announced.

Tickets are now on sale here.

Drake Announces The OVO Fest Dates For This Summer After A Two Year Hiatus

by
Drake Raptors 2022
Getty Image

Drake is known for many things: record-breaking music, Instagram caption-ready lyrics, a charmingly corny disposition, and an undying love for his hometown. His loyalty to Toronto materialized over a decade ago with his longstanding event OVO Fest, where he’s brought out the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and many more rap titans. As with many things, the pandemic hindered his ability to keep the tradition going, but OVO Fest is officially set to return at the end of this month.

In an Instagram post, the “One Dance” artist enthusiastically announced “October World Weekend” after previously alluding to his desire to make the festival happen. He revealed that he is looking to turn OVO Fest into a full tour come 2023, but to start, he’s bringing it back to its roots on Thursday July 28, Friday July 29 and Monday August 1. The July 28 show at History will feature the “All Canadian North Stars,” which opens up the imagination to a few major acts that could appear. The July 29 installment, at Budweiser Stage, will feature Chris Brown and Lil Baby. A few days later (August 1), the show returns to Budweiser Stage with Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and a Young Money Reunion.

After not being able to tour 2021’s Certified Lover Boy and adding the June dance album Honestly, Nevermind to the mix, this is sure to be a huge moment for Drake, his fans, and, of course, Toronto.

Tickets go on sale this Friday via Ticketmaster. Check out Drake’s official OVO Fest announcement above.

Drake’s OVO Fest Is Returning In 2022

by
drake ovo
Getty Image

In addition to anointing UK rapper Dave as one of the most unique artists in the business today, Drake also had another surprise for fans at Dave’s tour stop in Toronto last night. After performing “Wanna Know” and “Knife Talk” alongside his host (or guest, since Drake owns the venue, History), Drake told the diehards in attendance that he’s also planning on bringing back his own event, OVO Fest, sometime this year. “I love you with all of my heart,” he said. “They let the city back open so I will see you at OVO Fest soon.”

Drake’s festival would have had its 10th iteration in 2020, but COVID-19 and the resulting safety restrictions forced him to forego plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary at the event itself. Unfortunately, as a side effect of the slowed income from that year, there was no 2021 edition, either. The last OVO Fest took place in 2019 with guests like millennial favorites B2K, Chingy, and Lloyd. Intriguingly enough, Drake’s festival isn’t the only one coming back to Toronto this year; in April, Rolling Loud announced its own event in The Six featuring none other than Dave as a headliner alongside Future and international superstar Wizkid.

Drake didn’t offer any more details, but you can bet when he does, there will be a frenzy to get tickets to his hometown show — no matter how much they cost.