Kendrick Lamar gets 2-minute ovation after ‘Not Like Us' in Drake's hometown
Kendrick Lamar stepped onto Drake's turf on Thursday, playing his first concert in Toronto since the rift between the music superstars went into hyperdrive last year.
For the most part, the Los Angeles rapper didn't fan the flames of his feud, even if some ticketholders hoped he might douse the conflict in gasoline. Instead, Lamar mostly took the high road by focusing on the music.
As the first of two nights at the Rogers Centre neared its close, Lamar pulled out his ace card with a performance of 'Not Like Us,' the chart-topping diss track that knocked Drake down a few pegs in popular culture.
Immediately, phones went up, booties started shaking, and fans shouted along to the contemptuous lyrics that brought Lamar and Drake's rift to its apparent head.
Once he was finished, Lamar stood centre stage in a spotlight, his face in shadow, and for the next two minutes he took in the roar of the crowd. Many of them screamed, 'One more time.'
Story continues below advertisement
Lamar didn't deliver that pleaded encore, but he gave the crowd plenty of other hits to dance to, including 'Squabble Up' and 'TV Off' from his latest album 'GNX' and older favourites 'Humble' and 'All the Stars,' which he performed with his tour mate SZA.
0:45
Drake announces tour, opening night coincides with rival Kendrick Lamar's Superbowl performance
The duo are snaking their way across North America and Europe with their Grand National Tour this summer, but their only Canadian dates are in Toronto at a massive stadium that Drake has never played on tour.
And so Lamar's moment in the spotlight could be seen as another win in the battle against his rap nemesis.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Drake and Lamar have been entrenched in a highly publicized rap beef that has culminated in a legal battle between the Canadian rapper and the U.S. record label that represents both men.
Story continues below advertisement
Drake is suing Universal Music Group for defamation for publishing and promoting 'Not Like Us.'
In legal documents, Drake says the song's lyrics wrongly accuse him of being a pedophile, jeopardizing his safety and damaging his reputation. None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Before the show, how Lamar might play his cards in Toronto loomed as internet forums and local barbershops buzzed with speculation of special guests and what he might say on stage.
2:07
Police investigate shooting at Drake's Toronto mansion amid rapper's beef with Kendrick Lamar
Brendan Wong flew in from Calgary for what he described as a 'monumental occasion.'
'I love the music, I love Kendrick, I love SZA, so that's why I'm here, honestly,' he said outside the venue.
'It's not like I'm a religious Drake supporter, you know what I'm saying? I like Kendrick more, so I guess I'm on his side.'
Story continues below advertisement
Other ticket holders arrived wearing Drake's OVO gear, branded with its famous owl logo.
Peter Jin's shirt featured a Canadian flag adorning the wing of the OVO owl. He said he likes the music of both rappers and was hoping for a surprise Drake appearance that might lead to a truce during the show.
'Maybe if they can go to the stage together,' he said. 'And challenge each other (in a rap battle), that would be amazing.'
Jin didn't get his wish, though he said no matter how the night went, he would have fun.
Outside the venue, a noticeably stronger police foot patrol roamed the premises, though the crowd appeared peaceful.
Plans for some Drake fans to congregate in support of Drizzy during the show fizzled when organizers behind an Instagram account promoting the gathering said 'logistical constraints' prevented them from moving forward.
Drake was also set to host a livestream Thursday night with American internet personality Kai Cenat, but the streamer later posted those plans were being delayed 'a few more days.'
At least one Drake fan at the Rogers Centre came to simply to show his unwavering support, dressed head to toe in OVO memorabilia, including a hat, pants and jacket.
Story continues below advertisement
Even though he didn't have concert tickets, the fan, who called himself Julian, said he arrived from Whitby, Ont., 'to show who runs this city.'
'I've been a Drake and OVO diehard fan, that's what I was made for,' he said.
'I'm born October the 6th in the 6 (Toronto's nickname) … so I'm just here to support through and through.'
1:58
Shooting at Drake's home puts spotlight on Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud
Anthony Tran and Krisha Mae came to the Lamar show without much thirst for the drama. They waited several hours in the merchandise line to purchase matching SZA shirts, in support of Lamar's Grammy-winning tour mate.
But they admitted that the lingering feud between Drake and Lamar was still on their minds.
'Everyone's talking about it, so we had to get tickets because of the beef,' he said.
Story continues below advertisement
Tran said while the hype surrounding the rappers' bad blood drove them to buy seats, it wasn't the main reason they showed up.
'I think both of them are really good songwriters, so I don't really care about the personalities,' he added, before rethinking his answer.
'Honestly, I do like Drake better. I'm sorry. Yeah, but we are from Toronto, so we got to rep Drake.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
4 hours ago
- Global News
‘An epic kind of proposal': B.C. man pops the question from Galapagos seafloor
Most deep-sea divers will spend a lifetime underwater without finding treasure at the bottom of the sea. Not so for B.C. couple Cailin Lindsay and Maxwel Hohn, whose recent diving expedition included a treasure chest, a gold ring — and the promise of a lifetime of love. It was the culmination of an elaborate marriage proposal Hohn, an Emmy award-winning underwater cinematographer, told Global News he spent the better part of a year and a half planning. 'I knew it had to be somewhere that was very grand, it had to be like an epic kind of proposal, but I also had to catch her off guard by surprise, so I decided to do it in Galapagos,' he explained. 'I'd told her that I'd never proposed to her underwater, so she didn't really have this in the back of her head thinking that this would be the trip that would happen.' Story continues below advertisement 3:37 Tips for a perfect holiday marriage proposal The road to Galapagos was a long and winding one. Lindsay and Hohn both grew up on the Sunshine Coast, and while both of them are lifelong divers, they never actually met until about eight years ago. Hohn already knew Lindsay's father through the diving industry, and during a chance encounter her brother dropped her name while 'playing cupid a little bit.' 'Maxwell kind of went, 'Wait a minute, your dad never mentioned anything about having a daughter,' so he reached out,' she said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The pair connected in Mexico, where, true to form, their first date was under the sea — a dive with schools of jackfish and bull sharks. 'We're both very adventurous people, and you know it's kind of been one big adventure from the get-go between the two of us, we had our first adventure dive date, and it's kind of never slowed down from there,' Lindsay said. Story continues below advertisement 'When I saw her on the first dive and her skill set underwater, I was like, yep, she's the one,' Hohn added. It was only several years later, after the pair started working together on Hohn's wildlife cinematography business, that he decided it was time to take the plunge. It was a major operation, involving the help of multiple friends and an Ecuadorian company called Galaxy Expeditions to plan out the elaborate scene. 1:06 Marriage proposal happens on Global News Morning 'The hardest thing was trying to keep it a secret, because I have all these people I'm collaborating with to try and plan this event, and they're texting me, so I'm having to keep my phone very secretive from her,' he said. 'And as most people know, doing that in front of your spouse is quite tricky.' Story continues below advertisement At one point, the ring even fell out of Hohn's bag as they were unpacking it onto the boat — but Lindsay never got wise. As the clock ticked down to the big moment, Hohn said he got so nervous about whether it would work that he almost got cold flippers and called the whole thing off. 'But I had all these people committed to kind of helping me, you know that we had this treasure chest already hidden, so the ring was already underwater. I had four people who had these big laminated signs to say, 'Will you marry me?' They were hiding in this place behind a rock,' he chuckled. More nerve-wracking, when they got to the seafloor, Hohn said he began to question whether he could remember exactly where they'd stashed the ring. His friends had told him it was placed right next to a big turtle. 1:41 I hope you don't mind, B.C. man proposes to girlfriend at Elton John concert 'Of course, you know, with wildlife, nature, and things like that, turtles don't stay in one spot, they move around, but sure enough, when we got there, this giant turtle was pretty much sitting next to the chest and guarding it, which was pretty special,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'Cailin noticed the turtle right away, and she went to go see it and check it out, and it kind of revealed the chest was behind it.' Lindsay said she was initially hesitant to open the chest, explaining she thought 'it's not ours to open,' but Hohn insisted. 'But Maxwell insisted I open it, so I finally opened the lid and sure enough, there's photos of us, there was a message in a bottle, and the ring,' she said. 'I was absolutely in shock from that point onwards … my mask started filling up with tears and I had to keep clearing it throughout the dive.' The pair have yet to come up for air enough to start planning their wedding. But they say it's a safe bet it will happen above sea level.
Global News
8 hours ago
- Global News
Amid fan concern, Justin Bieber shares sweet photos of time with his son
It's been a tumultuous few months for Justin Bieber, but it appears that amidst the drama and speculation, he's enjoying being a dad. The Canadian pop superstar shared some sweet snaps to Instagram on Friday, June 13, showing a little one-on-one time at home with his son Jack Blues. 'Ay bay bay' Bieber captioned the photo carousel, where the baby's face is turned away from the camera — a posting tactic Bieber and wife, Hailey Beiber, have made to protect the privacy of their son for as long as possible. Story continues below advertisement Over the past few months, fans have expressed worry for Bieber after a series of concerning social media posts and public appearances. Most recently, the 'Baby' singer unleashed a tirade on paparazzo wishing him a happy first Father's Day outside an elite club in Malibu, Calif. He began the conversation by telling the photographers to 'get out of [his] f–king face' and 'stop asking [him] how it's going,' reports Page Six. 'I'm a father. I'm a dad, and you guys are on private property in front of my car,' he continued. He told the group that was 'at [his] wit's end' and it was 'mean to provoke people' as the photographers continued peppering him with questions. 'I love my evenings, I love my wife, I love my family and you provoke me and it's sad,' he insisted. Story continues below advertisement A post in late May sparked concern after a carousel, which featured pictures of Jack, also included photos of Bieber smoking alone in one snap and, in another, appearing to smoke weed on a couch with a friend. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy And late last month, he made comments about Hailey's Vogue cover, which landed him in hot water with fans, who called him disrespectful. 'Yo this reminds me when Hailey and I got into a huge fight,' he wrote at the time, although he changed the caption shortly after. 'I told hails that she would never be on the cover of vogue. Yikes I know, so mean.' Story continues below advertisement He continued: 'For some reason because I felt so disrespected. I thought I gotta get even…' 'I think as we mature we realize that we're not helping anything by getting even. We're honestly just prolonging what we really want which is intimacy and connection.' 'So baby u already know but forgive me for saying u wouldn't get a vogue cover cuz clearly i was sadly mistaken,' he concluded. In recent weeks he's also shared cryptic posts about the meaning of love and transactional relationships, causing speculation about his marriage and mental health. Story continues below advertisement In April, Bieber pleaded for 'a change' on Instagram, saying that he will not be 'bullied to leave' Los Angeles. 'Everyone telling me to move from La. U think I'm gonna get bullied to leave where my influence is most needed?' Bieber wrote. 'How can we make a change if we run away from the darkness?' The 'Sorry' singer said that he's been caught up in the 'transactional nature of Hollywood.' 'It's embarrassing but with that said I want nothing to do with that as a grown adult with a wife and son,' Bieber wrote. 'I just want to be submerged in the culture learning from any and everyone And be a proponent and advocate for LOVE AND EQUALITY.' Story continues below advertisement The Biebers are coming up on their seventh wedding anniversary, after tying the knot in September 2018. Last May, they renewed their wedding vows on a trip to Hawaii and announced they were expecting their first child. Three months later, Jack Blues was born.
Global News
8 hours ago
- Global News
Edmonton Fringe Fest reveals ‘Fringe Full of Stars' theme for 2025, gives fundraising update
As one of the most well-attended events on Edmonton's festival calendar each year, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival teased its upcoming incarnation on Friday by revealing its theme for 2025: 'A Fringe Full of Stars.' '(The theme) is a very vast look at our existence,' explained Murray Utas, the artistic director with Edmonton Fringe Theatre. 'It makes sense with the global nature of our festival. 'Everything that you are interested in — and more — you can find here, and I think that is the best thing about the Fringe.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Everything that you are interested in — and more — you can find here, and I think that is the best thing about the Fringe." In a news release, festival organizers said the theme is about conveying the idea that Edmonton's Fringe is more than just a festival. 'This is a galaxy born on the fringes of imagination,' the release said. 'We are 'A Fringe Full of Stars,' and your light belongs here. Shine on with us.' Story continues below advertisement Organizers held an event Friday morning to unveil the festival's 2025 theme, complete with an artistic dance performance. The 44th Edmonton Fringe Festival takes place Aug. 14-24, with plans to present 223 theatre productions in 40 venues. In all 1,600 artists will perform at the festival, which is centred around theatre but also embraces music, dance, comedy and street performances. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Edmonton's Fringe is the longest-running Fringe theatre festival in North America and organizers say it has a reputation as one of the top five Fringe festivals in the world. This year's festival will include a free, nightly music series at McIntyre Park in Old Strathcona, and will see the Indigenous-centred pêhonân performance series make its return, as will KidsFringe, described by organizers as 'a festival within a festival for little Fringers' and their caregivers. Story continues below advertisement 'Sustain Fringe' campaign continues Last year, the festival launched a fundraising campaign dubbed 'Sustain Fringe,' asking the community to donate to the festival, sponsor it, or volunteer time to help it stay afloat amid skyrocketing expenses and dwindling funding. Organizers revealed Friday that the campaign started with 34 monthly donors but now has more than 540 monthly donors. 'The support of our monthly donors is crucial to ensuring we continue to thrive as one of the most influential cultural and tourism drivers in the country,' said Megan Dart, the executive director of Fringe Theatre. 'We are deeply grateful for the generous support of our donors and sponsors. Thanks to you, the Fringe Festival will return to the heart of Old Strathcona again this August. 'While we're celebrating this incredible milestone in support of our Sustain Fringe campaign, we have a long way to go yet.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "While we're celebrating this incredible milestone in support of our Sustain Fringe campaign, we have a long way to go yet." Dart said expenses continue to outpace funding but hopes the community will increasingly continue to show its support for the event. 'We've built this festival on duct tape and dreams since we first exploded onto the scene in 1982, but we need the continued help of our community if we're going to sustain the Edmonton Fringe Festival for generations to come,' she said.
