Drake hails London MCs as ‘the best lyricists in the world' during Wireless set
'London rappers are the best lyricists in the world,' he said during his set.
'No disrespect to America, but nobody in the world can out-rap London rappers.
'This is the highest level – this is what I aspire to be.'
The boy is home 😌 Round 2 tonight if you're not here where tf are you pic.twitter.com/lNW1ugxGv5
— Wireless Festival (@WirelessFest) July 12, 2025
It marked Drake's return to full-scale UK shows and the second of three back-to-back headline sets – a Wireless first – after he signed a multimillion-pound deal to top the bill each night of the festival.
The crowd erupted as each guest act appeared on stage, with fans singing along to some of the country's biggest rap anthems as temperatures remained high into the evening following a scorching 29C day.
Earlier, grime collective Boy Better Know, along with BigXthaPlug, Lancey Foux, Nemzzz and DJ AG, took to the main stage, warming up the crowd ahead of Drake's set.
Away from the main arena, JME and Big Zuu delivered a surprise performance at the Owl and Crown – a makeshift pub inside the VIP section, named as a nod to the owl logo of Drake's OVO label.
The pair performed grime and garage staples including A Little Bit of Luck and Serious in an unannounced set.
Celebrity guests including former Love Island contestant and basketball star Ovie Soko and ex-footballer Clinton Morrison were spotted in the crowd.
Drake's set featured tracks from across his career – including Nonstop, Know Yourself, and God's Plan.
The rapper signed a multimillion-pound deal to headline all three nights of Wireless this year – a first for any artist – with his run at the north London festival forming part of his ongoing 2025 tour.
Friday night saw Lauryn Hill join him on stage in a surprise cameo, but Saturday's show had a distinctly British feel, with fans singing along to tracks from the country's biggest rap and grime stars.
Wireless continues on Sunday, with Drake set to close the weekend for a third and final night.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Universal deny that head Lucian Grainge was personally involved in Kendrick Lamar attack on Drake
Universal Music Group has denied new allegations made by Drake's lawyers that its British chair and chief executive Lucian Grainge had a 'role in and knowledge of the scheme to defame and harass' the Canadian rapper by peer Kendrick Lamar, and that as such the label should 'collect, review and produce' communications by Grainge. Drake is suing UMG – his label Republic's parent company – over its release of Lamar's 2024 diss track Not Like Us, which contains the line: 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young … Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles.' The artwork for the global hit single features an image of Drake's home dotted with icons used to identify the homes of registered sex offenders. Drake has denied the allegations, and in January filed a lawsuit against UMG – not Lamar himself – alleging that it 'approved, published and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track' that was 'intended to convey the specific, unmistakable and false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response'. The label initially responded that the suit was 'utterly without merit'. Drake's latest motion argued that Drake believes 'Grainge was personally involved in decisions made regarding the marketing and promotion of [Not Like Us] around its release'. Lawyers for UMG have now called for Drake's motion to be denied, labelling it a 'transparent attempt to use discovery to harass UMG and force it to waste time and resources out of spite' and that his 'attempts to show Sir Lucian's relevance are so strained that they defy credulity'. In legal documents, Grainge declared that he never heard the song prior to its release. Lawyer Rollin A Ransom continued: 'The premise of Drake's motion – that he could not have lost a rap battle unless it was the product of some imagined secret conspiracy going to the top of UMG's corporate structure – is absurd. Sir Lucian is the CEO of a multinational enterprise; his days are spent determining and implementing global strategy, not vetting individual tracks or album covers or driving the release and promotional plans for any one recording.' Drake previously agreed not to seek documents from Grainge, the letter states. 'And even if Sir Lucian had any responsive documents, they would surely be captured by discovery from UMG's other document custodians, who were actually responsible for releasing and promoting Not Like Us. Drake does not come close to meeting his burden of showing that Sir Lucian must be a custodian.' The letter concludes: 'Drake argues that Sir Lucian must be a custodian for no other reason than because Drake asked for him. That is entirely inconsistent with the law and is particularly inappropriate given that Drake's request is clearly based on a desire to harass UMG, rather than for a legitimate reason.' Drake has not responded to the new filing. The Guardian has contacted his representatives. UMG is seeking to have the case dismissed entirely, claiming in March that Drake 'lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated … diss tracks are a popular and celebrated art form centred around outrageous insults, and they would be severely chilled if Drake's suit were permitted to proceed'.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ryan Reynolds warned football club will make 'bigger and more special' rise than Wrexham
Wrexham have been told that the achievements of a non-league football club could soon eclipse their own, with the owners of Truro City claiming their rise is 'bigger' and 'more special' Wrexham's Hollywood owners have been told that the achievements of a non-league football club could soon overshadow their own. Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have guided the Red Dragons to remarkable success over the past four years following three consecutive promotions. The pair of actors have transformed the Welsh side from National League also-rans into a Championship outfit with dreams of Premier League football on the horizon. But the owner of National League outfit Truro City has now insisted their ascent is "bigger" and "more special" than Wrexham 's. Canadian entrepreneur Eric Perez assumed control of the club in November 2023 as part of the Ontario Inc consortium. Truro clinched the National League South crown in April this year during the new ownership's maiden full campaign at the club. By doing so, they became the first Cornish side to secure promotion to non-league's highest division, with Perez believing that makes their achievements more significant than Wrexham's. "I think what we're doing is even more special than what they've done," Perez told BBC Radio Cornwall. "There are, at the end of the day, five league clubs from Wales. There's only one club in Cornwall that's even close to the Football League. If we could get there, it would be something that would change Cornwall forever. "It would weave a patch into the cultural tapestry of a place that has been alive and vibrant for 3,000 years. To be able to do something like that is, to me, what life is all about, so I actually feel like this is bigger than Wrexham could ever be." Alongside securing triumph on the field, Perez and Truro's other backers have been working hard to enhance the club's facilities. A new stadium was constructed on the city's outskirts approximately 12 months ago to stage the side's fixtures, with additional development occurring this summer. In contrast to Reynolds and Mac, Perez brings prior expertise in managing sporting organisations, having previously owned Cornwall's rugby league outfit and maintained connections with Toronto Wolfpack. Whilst Wrexham's remarkable rise may have captured King Charles's interest, prompting his visit to the Racecourse Ground in December 2022, Truro boast their own royal fan. Perez said: "It's just been such a journey. I remember when we first took over the club and we set out some goals, no-one really paid attention. I think everyone's paying attention now, because we are really on the cusp of something huge here playing our first home National League match. "It's been a super hectic off-season. First of all, we've had a stadium renovation that we've done, building a new main stand to accommodate what is now the requirements for this league. Then obviously transitioning the club from hybrid to full-time professional, that's been massive." Whether Truro can emulate Wrexham's success is yet to be seen. However, Perez is content with the club maintaining its position in the National League for now. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
Wales Online
8 hours ago
- Wales Online
Ryan Reynolds told football club about to have 'bigger and more special' rise than Wrexham
Ryan Reynolds told football club about to have 'bigger and more special' rise than Wrexham The owner of a non-league football club claims their rapid rise is more remarkable than Wrexham's, despite the Red Dragons registering three consecutive promotions Ryan Reynolds has been told Truro City's achievements are "more special" than Wrexham's (Image: Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Wrexham's Hollywood owners have been warned that the achievements of a non-league football club could soon eclipse their own. Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have led the Red Dragons to unprecedented success in the last four years after registering three promotions in a row. The two actors have turned the North Wales outfit from National League nearly men to a Championship team with ambitions of reaching the Premier League in the near future. However, the owner of National League side Truro City has now claimed their rise is "bigger" and "more special" than Wrexham's. Canadian businessman Eric Perez took over the club in November 2023 as part of the Ontario Inc consortium. Truro won the National League South title in April this year during the new owners' first full season at the helm. In doing so, they became the first club from Cornwall to gain promotion to the non-league's top tier, and Perez thinks that makes their accomplishments more notable than Wrexham's. "I think what we're doing is even more special than what they've done," Perez told BBC Radio Cornwall. "There are, at the end of the day, five league clubs from Wales. "There's only one club in Cornwall that's even close to the Football League. If we could get there, it would be something that would change Cornwall forever. Article continues below Truro City's owner claims taking the Cornish side to the National League is bigger than Wrexham's achievements (Image: Hugh) "It would weave a patch into the cultural tapestry of a place that has been alive and vibrant for 3,000 years. To be able to do something like that is, to me, what life is all about, so I actually feel like this is bigger than Wrexham could ever be." As well as achieving success on the pitch, Perez and Truro's other investors have been busy improving the club's infrastructure. A new stadium was built on the edge of the city around a year ago to host the team's matches, with a further expansion taking place over the summer. Unlike Reynolds and Mac, Perez has previous experience of running sports clubs, having owned Cornwall's rugby league side and also had links with Toronto Wolfpack. While Wrexham's meteoric rise might have attracted the attention of King Charles, who visited the Racecourse Ground in December 2022, Truro have their own royal supporter. Watch Welcome to Wrexham season 4 on Disney+ This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £4.99 Disney+ Get Disney+ here Product Description Welcome to Wrexham is back on Disney+ for a fourth season. Fans can watch the series with a £4.99 monthly plan, or get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront. Prince William was among the people who wrote to the club to wish them good luck for the new season. Article continues below Perez said: "It's just been such a journey. I remember when we first took over the club and we set out some goals, no-one really paid attention. I think everyone's paying attention now, because we are really on the cusp of something huge here playing our first home National League match. "It's been a super hectic off-season. First of all, we've had a stadium renovation that we've done, building a new main stand to accommodate what is now the requirements for this league. Then obviously transitioning the club from hybrid to full-time professional, that's been massive." Whether Truro go on to reach the same heights as Wrexham remains to be seen. But Perez insists he's happy for the club to consolidate its place in the National League for the time being.
