By Marley Brennan
Executive Opinion Editor
Drake brought a sonically incredible and entertaining string of concerts to Los Angeles.
Between Aug. 12-22, Drake delivered eight amazing concerts to his fans at the Kia Forum and the Crytpto.com Arena in Inglewood. The openers, on-stage production, and setlist all exceeded expectations.
Drake is a world-renowned rapper most famous for his 2018 album “Scorpion,” and, more recently, “Her Loss,” released in 2022. His “It’s All a Blur” tour excited fans, as his last tour was “Aubrey & the Three Migos” in 2018.
On his “It’s All a Blur Tour,” Drake featured renowned rapper 21 Savage in all but one of his shows worldwide. Drake invited SexxyRedd to his opening set, and fans sang along to her most famous songs such as “Shake Sumn” and “SkeeYee,” which are well-known on TikTok.
After the openers, Drake performed for around 45 minutes, at which point 21 Savage performed alongside Drake. Some fan favorite songs included “Nice For What,” an upbeat piece, “Over,” a lyrical masterpiece with a famous intro, as well as “Energy” and “Nonstop,” two perfect hype songs. As for 21 Savage, he played hits “Bank Account,’’ a repetitive but classic song everyone knows and “Peaches and Eggplants,” with heavy bass and accompanying instrumentals.
At the end of each concert, Drake performed a song that he either had never played live or hadn’t played for a very long time. Some of these were picked from his older albums, such as “Thank me Later,” whichwas released in 2010.
The set list for each of the shows were perfectly chosen. Incorporating songs spanning from multiple albums, old and new, the rapper crafted a diverse and unique show that fulfilled all his fans’ desires. Drake performed a mixture of all types of music, including a DJ set where he mixed songs such as “One Dance” and “Fountains.”
Providing seamless transitions and vibrant visuals, the onstage production was both visually pleasing and incredibly entertaining. Matching many of the digital designs onstage to each individual song and syncing the movement with the beat made it clear that the show was well-thought out by Drake’s creative team.
Although Drake performed at both the Kia Forum and the Crypto.com Arena, the sound quality was better at the Forum. Since the Forum was specifically built to be a music venue, it provides perfect acoustics for a high-quality concert.
Nonetheless, Drake provided his fans with a concert that combined a perfectly constructed setlist with an entertaining and thoughtful production. He executed his concert at the Kia Forum phenomenally, entertaining his audience throughout the night.
Drake performed in California at the Kia Forum on Aug. 12, 13, 15, 16; the Chase Center Aug. 18 and 19; and the Crypto.com Arena Aug. 21 and 22. Drake’s “It’s All a Blur” 2023 tour began July 5, and his final show date is to be determined. For more information go to drakerelated.com.
Leave a Reply