I wasn’t even supposed to go to the concert in the first place.
I remember just casually browsing Ticketmaster, curious about what the Drake concert tickets looked like. But when the ticket prices popped up on my screen, I was taken aback. I mean, they were sky-high, nearing the cost of one month’s rent.
So I settled for indulging in Drake’s tunes on Spotify and planned to watch all the concert recap videos that would inevitably flood TikTok right after the show. But little did I know my plans were about to take a thrilling turn.
One day, out of the blue, my sister texted me saying that she had an extra ticket for the Drake concert, and get this – it was half price! My jaw was on the floor. Did I just read what I just read? The chance to see Drake live, without breaking the bank? You bet I jumped on that opportunity faster than you can say “God’s Plan.”
Leading up to the concert, I was on a Drake binge. Every morning during my commute to work, I would plug my earphones on and listen to a different album every day: Certified Lover Boy, Take Care, Scorpion, Views, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late – you name it. I even spoiled myself with a black OVO jumpsuit during a trip to Toronto the weekend before. And let me tell you, that thing is the softest, comfiest, most stylish thing I’ve ever worn. I’m in love with it!
The night of the concert, the Bell Centre in Montreal was buzzing with excitement. Everyone was eagerly waiting for Drake to hit the stage, and my friends, who scored closer seats (lucky ducks), were texting back and forth, asking, “Yo, where’s Drake already?!”
And then the moment we were all waiting for: the lights went off, and the stage lit up like a supernova. And there he was, under the spotlight, walking through the crowd toward the stage, the man himself: Drake. The energy in the venue skyrocketed as the crowd erupted into cheers when Drake took the stage. The atmosphere was electric, and I couldn’t help but join in the excitement, singing along to every word as he performed hit after hit.
The visual effects and stage setup were truly mesmerizing. The props, the fire, the lights, they all created a captivating backdrop that perfectly complemented each song. The rapper at one point performed, as a large sperm floated above him. Another visual of a group of sperm cells, meanwhile, appeared to circle him on stage.
Amidst the captivating visuals, a UFO appeared, soaring above Drake, adding an otherworldly touch to the already mind-blowing performance. And during the opener, “Look What You’ve Done,” when a younger Drake appeared on stage, the crowd went wild. It was a nostalgic and touching moment to witness the past and present versions of the iconic rapper sharing the stage. But let’s not forget the fiery spectacle on stage, shooting vibrant bursts of flames as Drake belted out his hit: “Rich Flex.”
But then, Drake did something unexpected that blew my mind.
He took a break from the stage and went over to the DJ booth, saying he wanted to be part of the crowd too. He spoke about how concerts, for him, were about breaking down the barrier between being the artist and the audience. He emphasized that we’re all in this together, experiencing the music as one big family.
So he turned the whole venue into a massive club, and everyone went wild-er! “Controlla,” “Too Good,” “One Dance,” “Work” – all the best club songs you could play. It was such a cool and unique experience, dancing and partying with Drake like he was just one of us.
And then, in one of the most heartwarming moments of the night, Drake gave another heartfelt speech that hit me right in the feels.
“I spend the entire summer on the road, going in and out of different buildings. And I walk by people in the halls sometimes. Maybe they’re like a little too nervous to say hi. Or they’re just looking at the floor, so focused on what they’re doing. And I think to myself, “I wonder what that person’s going through, you know?” So I make sure, to try and be nice to everybody. Because you never know what somebody’s going through. I’m sure everybody in this building has their shit going on. Maybe somebody just broke up with you, or maybe you feel underappreciated by your friends, by your family. Or maybe you’re broke as fuck, and you can’t figure out what you wanna do in life. Everybody in this room has something personal going on. But there’s also 18, 19 thousand of us in this room that are alive. And we need to be grateful.”
Drake, It’s All A Blur Concert, Montreal Bell Centre, 2023
Being the great storyteller he is, Drake reminded everyone that we never truly know what people are going through, and that we all have our struggles. He encouraged us to be kind to one another, to show empathy and understanding, because we’re all fighting our own battles. His words touched me deeply, especially after having gone through a tough year (or two) myself. It felt like he was speaking directly to me.
And then, just when I thought the surprises were over, just when I thought the night couldn’t get any more extraordinary, the crowd erupted into cheers as Drake teased us with yet another special guest. The tour was intended to feature 21 Savage, but since he couldn’t perform in Canada, Drake had a different trick up his sleeve.
“Who could it be?” I thought, “Lil Wayne? Travis Scott? Maybe even Future?”
And then, as if the universe conspired to create the perfect surprise, the stage lights suddenly went pitch black, engulfing the arena in darkness. For a moment, the crowd fell silent, unsure of what was happening. And then, like a burst of stardust, the screen lit up with a spotlight on a figure emerging from the shadows.
It was none other than J. Cole.
“Montreal, I’m gonna leave you, with one of my friends, one of the greatest rappers to ever touch a microphone. I hope you enjoy yourselves.”
Drake introducing J. Cole, It’s All A Blur Concert, Montreal Bell Centre, 2023
About a year or so ago, during one of my most darkest moments, I laid in bed in my blankets, crying. I didn’t wanna move. I didn’t wanna eat, or sleep, or talk. Nothing really made me feel good anymore. Nothing I normally loved. Not even books (and coming from the bookworm that I am, you’d know something was up). Not even a fresh notebook and Muji pen. Not even a platter of sushi, or a hot bowl of kimchi jjigae. Not even a good podcast, or a fun episode of Superstore.
My sister laid next to me even handing me my favourite hazelnut wafers: “Wanna eat a wafer?” But I just continued laying there crying. So she came up with another idea. “Wanna listen to Kehlani together?” And as my Google Home to played all her albums, we just laid in bed and listened together.
And that made me feel a little better.
Then my sister had another idea: “You love poetic lyrics like Kehlani’s, right? You know, you should listen to J. Cole!”
I had heard J. Cole’s music before, mostly in clubs, parties, and stuff, but I had never really paid too much attention to it, and I never really dove into rap that much. But after listening, since then, he became my anchor in difficult times. No matter where or when, whether I was walking to the grocery store, riding the subway to work, cleaning my apartment, or even baking a cake, his music would never fail to lift my spirits. It didn’t matter what I was doing, his songs became my go-to remedy for any tough day (Yup, just picture this girl, walking down the streets in her cute maxi floral dress – with rap playing in her ears).
And now I couldn’t believe my eyes – J. Cole was here, right before us, and it was completely unexpected. And in that moment, as the first beats to “Middle Child” filled the air, followed by “Wet Dreamz,” “Power Trip,” and the classic “No Role Modelz,” I couldn’t hold back my tears. The emotions from Drake’s speech, the unexpected appearance of J. Cole, and the incredible energy of the concert all combined to create an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude.
I discreetly wiped away my tears, not wanting anyone (especially not my sister who was yelling out song lyrics like her life depended on it) to see me crying. But in that sea of fans, all brought together by the power of music, I realized that I wasn’t alone. Many others were also touched by the moment, and it was a reminder that we’re all connected by our shared experiences and emotions. Drake and J. Cole had not only put on an unforgettable show, but they had also given us something more profound – a reminder of the importance of compassion, kindness, and empathy.
Leaving the venue that night, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. The tough times I had faced felt a little lighter, knowing that I wasn’t alone in my struggles. The power of music, combined with Drake and J. Cole’s meaningful messages, had brought us all together in a way I could have never imagined.
As I made my way home, still humming the tunes and replaying the incredible moments in my head, I knew that this concert would be etched in my heart forever. It was a night of surprises, tears, and joy – a night that showed me the immense power of music to heal, to connect, and to remind us that even in the toughest times, there is hope.
So thank you, Drake and J. Cole, for a night that I will cherish forever, and for the reminder that while we all have our battles, we also have the strength to overcome them together.
And in the words of Drake himself, “Started from the bottom, now we’re here.”
The Lilac Blog 