Kendrick Lamar between DuckTurf Thursday, playing his first concert in Toronto since the rift between the music superstars entered Hyperdrive last year.
For the most part, the rapper of Los Angeles did not have the flames of his quarrel attracted, even if some tickets hoped that he could extinguish the conflict in the essence. Instead, Lamar especially took the high road by focusing on music.
While the first of two nights at Rogers Center approached its closure, Lamar released his ACE card with a performance of Not like usThe dissociate track at the head of the graphic which overthrew Drake some ankles in popular culture.
Immediately, the phones increased, the boots started to tremble and the fans shouted the despised words that brought Lamar and Drake’s Rift to his apparent head.
Once finished, Lamar stood in the center of the front of the stage under the spotlight, his face in the shade, and for the next two minutes, he roared the crowd. Many of them shouted: “once again”.
Lamar did not deliver this pleaded recall, but he gave the crowd a lot of other successes to dance, including Argue And Television Of his latest album Gnx and the oldest favorites Humble And All starsthat he interpreted with his Sza touring companion.
The duo winds through North America and Europe with their great national tour this summer, but their only Canadian dates are in Toronto in a massive stadium that Drake has never played on tour.
And so Lamar’s moment under the spotlight could be considered another victory in the battle against his sworn enemy.
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Drake and Lamar were rooted in a very publicized rap beef which led to a legal battle between the Canadian rapper and the American record company which represents the two men.
Drake continues a universal music group for defamation for publication and promotion Not like us.
In legal documents, Drake says that the lyrics of the song wrongly accuse him of being a pedophile, endangering his security and damaging his reputation. None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Before the show, how Lamar could play his cards in Toronto is looming while the Internet forums and the local hairdressing salons burst out special guest speculation and what he could say on stage.
Brendan Wong came from Calgary for what he described as a “monumental opportunity”.
“I love music, I like Kendrick, I love Sza, that’s why I’m here, honestly,” he said outside the place.
“It’s not like I was a religious supporter of Drake, you know what I say? I like Kendrick more, so I assume that I am on his side.”
Other ticket holders arrived by carrying the OVO equipment from Drake, marked with his famous OWL logo.
Peter Jin’s shirt included a Canadian flag adorning the wing of the Ovo owl. He said he loved the music of the two rappers and hoped for a surprise appearance from Drake who could lead to a truce during the show.
“Maybe if they can go on stage together,” he said. “And to challenge (in a rap battle), it would be incredible.”
Jin did not get his wish, although he said that no matter how the night went, he would have fun.
Outside the site, a stronger police foot patrol to travel through the locals, although the crowd appeared peaceful.
The plans for some Drake fans gather in support of Drizzy during the program collapsed when the organizers behind an Instagram account promoted the rally said that “logistical constraints” have prevented them from advancing.
Drake also had to organize a livestream Thursday evening with the personality of American Internet Kai Cenat, but the streamer then published these plans which were delayed “a few more days”.
At least a fan of Drake at Rogers Center came simply to show his unwavering support, dressed in the head in OVO memories, including a hat, pants and a jacket.
Even if he did not have concert tickets, the fan, who called Julian, said that he had arrived from Whitby, Ontario, “to show who leads this city”.
“I was a Fan Track of Drake and Ovo, that’s what I was done,” he said.
“I was born on October 6 of 6 (nickname Toronto) … so I’m right there to support end -to -end.”
Anthony Tran and Krisha Mae came to the Lamar Show without too much thirst for the drama. They waited for several hours in the goods line to buy SZA assorted shirts, in support of the Lamar Grammy’s winner companion.
But they admitted that the persistent quarrel between Drake and Lamar was still in the lead.
“Everyone is talking about it, so we had to get tickets because of the beef,” he said.
Tran said that if the media threshing surrounding the rappers’ bad blood had pushed them to buy seats, this was not the main reason why they showed up.
“I think the two are very good songwriters, so I don’t really care personalities,” he added, before rethinking his answer.
“Honestly, I better like Drake. I’m sorry. Yes, but we come from Toronto, so we had to reproduce Drake. ”
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press