Drake got about as political as he gets at the first of two hometown shows at Scotiabank Arena Tuesday night (Aug. 21).
Taking a little swipe at America’s current climate, he did what he always does, Drizzy praised Toronto and the support he’s received, but went beyond his usual lovefest and talked about the city widely touted as the most diverse in the world. “I’m forever grateful, everywhere I go, I carry the values of this city with me,” he said. “Every night that I go and I do a show in America, I tell them, ‘This is how the world is supposed to work.'”
He continued, “You see, tonight, we got 17,000 people inside one building from all races, from all places, and all we are doing is just listening to music, and smoking and drinking — and enjoying our lives. And I want you to know that that’s something that I learned right here in Toronto.”
Drake speaking about how much Toronto means to him tonight in Toronto. #AATTM pic.twitter.com/dRduEbgR5Y
— Word On Road (@WordOnRd) August 22, 2018
It was the first time Drake had played the arena since the name change on Canada Day (July 1) from the original Air Canada Centre, which he headlined many times and in which he has his own private club named after his grandparents, Sher. It’s also home to his beloved NBA team, the Raptors, for which he is an ambassador and is often seen courtside.
The rapper was supposed to play the venue Monday night as well, but postponed it “due to circumstances beyond our control” (the three shows had also been moved from earlier in the month).
Also on the night, Travis Scott, who just announced his Astroworld: Wish You Were Here Tour for this November and December, surprised everyone by emerging onstage to join Drake on his own songs “SICKO MODE” and “goosebumps.”
That moment when @trvisXX touched the stage with Drake though —— #AATTM pic.twitter.com/16mpF8Sz5e
— Word On Road (@WordOnRd) August 22, 2018
Migos, who are on the tour — billed as Aubrey & The Three Migos — were seen at the VMAs in New York Monday night, while Drake had an endearing visit with an initially speechless 11-year-old fan, awaiting a heart transplant at a Chicago hospital. He sweetly tells her in their filmed encounter that he “canceled a concert so I could come see you, to be honest with you.”
This is incredible @Drake —- pic.twitter.com/RjO4XpUso8
— IGZ (@igzrap) August 21, 2018
The makeup date has not been announced yet but the second Toronto show is tonight.