Drake O2 Arena Review

“This is the part of the concert where the rapper says, 'We hitting an eight, if you wanna take it to a 10, make some noise!’ ”

So mocked Aubrey “Drake” Graham, during this first night of a week-long UK arena tour. It seemed appropriate that the 25-year-old Canadian – perhaps best known on these shores as Rihanna’s foil on 2010 chart-topper What’s My Name – should disavow the old clichés. His finely-tuned set confirmed him to be the best of a new breed of pensive, pop-leaning “soap-opera” rappers.

First, a word on supporting act Labrinth, the Hackney-born producer/singer-songwriter behind ubiquitous megahit Earthquake. His all-guns-blazing stage energy was joyous, while the music, futuristic electro-soul underpinned by shuddering synths and fidgety grime beats, augured well for his debut album (released next Monday).

Drake’s performance was more measured, but just as rewarding. He often condensed songs into punchy medleys, beautifully weaving together tracks from last year’s Take Care with plaintive hooks, sturdy beats and confessional storytelling. From dancefloor-filling hip hop to ambient R&B textures, his live backing band kicked out a limber groove, while Drake eased between fluid rapping and competent singing.

It was a style that set him apart from rap’s old guard, and he looked the part too. The neatly cropped hair, black shirt and immaculate orthodontistry betrayed his upbringing in an affluent Toronto neighbourhood, born to a black father and Jewish mother. He had a likeable grace, spreading goodwill – to English fans, his mentors, his family – like confetti, and giving individual crowd members from around the arena personal shout outs to treasure

By James Lachno

Drake's GQ cover

Drake's latest magazine cover finds him gracing the front of GQ, which, of course, means that there's a juicy article on the Toronto rapper-singer dwelling within in its pages. For the most part, the feature sticks to themes we have heard Drizzy reflect on in his music, from the pains of being famous to having so much sex with so many females that it doesn't really mean anything anymore.

But here's probably the most interesting portion, in which he discusses how he wants to feel "small" again to make better music:

While he's quick to say, "I'm actually really happy," the fame dome has its challenges, and much of the music on his latest album, Take Care, reveals a conflicted soul. "I'm trying to find the same feelings that I had for women when I had very little going on, which is tough," he says.

"When I was in my mom's house, I had nowhere to go, no real obligations. My girlfriend at the time, if she was mad at me, my day was all fucked-up. I didn't have anything else. And that made for some of the best music, I think, to date. Records where I felt small. That feeling is hard to capture when you're sitting out here in a space like this." He gestures to the pool, the tennis court, the volleyball court, the stables. "It's really difficult for me to find something that makes me feel small."

W.T.F?