Drake’s concert on the 4th of April 2019 at the London 03 arena as part of the ‘Assassination Vacation Tour’ involved various artist and guest appearances. The event took over 43 minutes, where the musicians performed over 50 songs from their different albums. Baka Not Nice and Tory Lanez also accompanied Drake to support the artist and perform their songs. Guest appearances included Giggs and Future, Krept and Konan, and Afro B.
The music list included 8 Out of 10, Jumpman, Mob Ties, Know Yourself, Both, Emotionless, Energy, Elevate, Going Bad, and Headlines. In a pre-show, Baka performed Live Up to My Name, while Tony Lanez performed Litty, Shooters, Diego, and Freaky (Jake). The musicians engaged in high-intensity cardio as the audience also showed its support through singing along, dancing, and cheering.
The concert incorporated various musical instruments and creative stage lighting graphics to give an entertaining ambiance. In the beginning, a large curtain descended onto the stage where the leading artist, Drake, ran inside. 3D projected images were later shown on the curtain as the musician’s shadow moved as his opening song played. Drone LED lights followed the artists like twinkling stars and galaxies, lava, and swimming pool graphics to boost his performance and entertain the guests (Jake). He played a setlist of his numerous iconic hits, ascertaining that his supporters received what they expected. Creative flickering lights shone through the audience, including a flying Ferrari suspended above the audience. Drake delivered a high-level show for his music lovers, boosting his business in London.
In the ‘Assassination Vacation Tour’ concert, Drake recognized and appreciated the UK Drill scene by bringing such drill artists as DigDat to entertain the audience on the Union Jack stage. Giggs, a local UK rapper who featured in one of Drake’s songs, also performed 187 and Gyalchester. Drake also invited other hip-hop performers, including Future, who performed his songs Mask Off and March Madness (Jake). Most of his audience comprised middle class youth who reflect Drake’s upbringing in Toronto in contrast to his current high-class lifestyle. Thus, the theme of the event is inspired by his surroundings and upbringing. The event offered an opportunity for these performers to market their songs and entertain their local audiences.
The event incorporated various musical instruments to augment the quality of performance. For instance, Sennheiser equipment was used to amplify the artists’ voices to the crowd. The instrument fits in the electrophones category in Hornbostel–Sachs’s musical instrument classification system. Electrophones are musical instruments that use electricity to amplify sound. Electrophones were also used for high-pitched speakers to play the listed songs in the background to support the performers, who mainly focused on the high-intensity cardio to engage the crowd. The instruments allowed the musicians to tirelessly sprint circuits on the four sides of the stage (Jake).
The music list mainly comprised encouraging songs such as Know Yourself, Elevate, Trophies, Blessings, and Energy. The song genres ranged from hip-hop to contemporary, matching the audience’s taste. Dancers joined the artist to engage and liven the stage while entertaining the audience. Overall, the incorporation of various lighting effects, musical instruments, and physical performance tricks offered an entertaining impact to the audience.
In conclusion, the event attracted people and performers from the middle class in London, reflecting Drake’s connection to childhood. Various stage lighting and music systems were used to enhance the performance and entertain the guests and audience. In particular, Drone LED lights, flying Ferrari, and 3D graphics were used to offer an entertaining ambiance. Drake invited local artists to support and expose them to his vast audience. Overall, the integration of various music instruments, encouraging song themes, and stage lighting supported the performance.
Work Cited
Jake. “Drake Assassination Vacation Tour 2019 – London O2 Arena.” YouTube, uploaded by Jake. 2019. Web.