Event Recap: Drake’s “So Far Gone” Tour In Atlanta
Events By Contra™ on May 5, 2009 at 9:42 pmIf you’re here for the footage, it’s all after the jump. The rest of y’all, read on.
Mixed reactions surround any discussion on Drake. On the one hand, we have those that consider him the future of Hip-Hop. On the other, there are skeptics. Not to be confused with naysayers, or haters, these are the folks that are yet to be convinced that this man is worth his weight in laurels.
Despite all the buzz and acclaim he’d garnered along with the fact that I liked a song or two, I still couldn’t take this cat seriously (*cough*Degrassi*cough*) and I was not alone….or so I thought. But when Drake sold out his Atlanta show in about five hours, it was clear that he had gotten too big to ignore.
Before the show, BkJaxon, Kaos and I joked on the about how the line wrapping around the block was laced with tight pants and smedium tees. I asked the all-knowing Kaos: “Uh…d’you know Danny! is the opening act?”
“Maaaan, who the Hell is Danny!?”
Everyone — security, promoters, media — was clueless about who this dude was. Apparently he’s pretty established on the international scene and had an album out last year that NBC loved. But as an old lady in Brooklyn once told a Priest on a subway, “Niggas don’t wanna hear that shit.”
The fans were there for Drake. Nobody had the mental capacity to take time to get to know this slanky, dark-skinded, surprisingly dapper brother. As a result homie got BOO’ED the Hell home. He tried to impress…but was bested by the crowd in the worst way.
Jaspects were the next act, and they were determined not to get the same treatment. But when five brothers walk on stage in vests, button ups, neck ties, jeans and converses — all matching — with brass wind instruments ranging from trumpets to whatever else they had there, one could almost feel the crowd take deep breaths, preparing to let out even bigger boos.
NOPE. These cats rocked it. Surprised everyone.
I’ve never listened to them before but their live show is on point. If you get a chance to peep them in your city, do so and thank me later.
Then, right before the man of the hour went on, an announcement came on that Chucky was about to get on stage. For those who don’t know, this is Chucky.
No, Lil’ Wayne did not get a mini-me….no, wait, he did. Very entertaining young cat with great command of the stage. Littler Wayne had the crowd rocking. He kept it short (no pun) and then proceeded to yield the floor to Drake’s DJ Future who spun some slow jams and warmed the crowd ladies up.
Then that familiar Coldplay sample began to play.
Drake – “Congratulations” (Live) from The Smoking Section on Vimeo.
And with that question, it was on. The screams heard every time he gave the audience time to breathe would lead any sane person to believe Godzilla was about to stomp the room.
Drake – “Successful” (Featuring Trey Songz) Live from The Smoking Section on Vimeo.
What you don’t see in the videos is how well meshed the whole concert was. The flow was seamless; the transitions and even the overly simplistic light show were all synchronized and timed perfectly. I’m pretty sure no one but myself noticed when one of the mics went out, because the man handled it like any of his seniors would have.
Drake – “Brand New” (Live) from The Smoking Section on Vimeo.
It is no secret that Drake came there primarily for the ladies. The Usher cameo and the R’n'B set were proof positive. While the ladies were watching those two fools, I noticed Esther Baxter low-keying in V.I.P. Teyana Taylor was also on stage hiding out with her “I clean up good” look on.
Drake – “Best I Ever Had” (Live) from The Smoking Section on Vimeo.
Other A-to-D-List celebs were in attendance, but nobody seemed to give a crap. All eyes were on the self-proclaimed “high-yellow wheelchair ass nigga from Toronto.” And they stayed glued to him for the full 45 minutes until he finally ceded his throne, only to return for the cliche encore. Except in this case everyone wanted him back on stage.
Drake – “Every Girl” (Live) from The Smoking Section on Vimeo.
…and the crowd went ape-shit. Wayne would’ve been proud.
As for me, I walked out of there no longer a Drake hater. I had high standards and expectations, and he surpassed them. Skepticism surrounds him, as far as artistry and talent go, wherever he treads. But all I know is I will no longer be contributing to that skepticism. He’s got a lot going for him and if this show was an indication of his potential, I’m eager to see what lies ahead.
Previously Posted — Video: Drake Featuring Trey Song – “Successful” Live Posted in Events, GENERAL, MUSIC, SMOKE BREAK, VIDEO — Tags: Danny!, Drake, Events, Jaspects, Señor Kaos, So Far Gone Tour, Trey Songz, VIDEO
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43 Comments
It must be said: Shout out to BkJaxon …..Truly appreciate everything.
I bullshit you not… Danny! > Drake.
Check the following:
- And I Love H.E.R.: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (its not really a soundtrack)
- Charm
- Danny! is Dead EP
Oh yeah…he does his own beats too. I did hear he was on stage drunk and talking wreckless about Drake so I can maybe understand the boo’s. Dude is pretty good though.
*Ahem*
I hear Danny got booed @ the show.
That is all.
ive got some of Danny!’s instrumentals there pretty impressive… very, very good producer
@ Heff: Dude did talk pretty slick about being the illest thing out right now. Then he proceeded to say (in so many words): “I’m gonna make y’all feel this.”
That’s like trying to rape your audience. They fought back. Hard.
@ Contra. LMAO! Yeah, that’s what I heard. Pretty unfortunate because I’d co-sign dude any day of the week. He just doesn’t have that commercial/pop appeal that Drake does.
LMAO @ Contra
You gotta know how to work the audience. There’s cats been in the game for a decade or better who still cannot get a crowd to embrace them.
LMAO @ Contra’s rape the audience comment!!! This was a great entry.
I actually think it’s fathomable that Drake’s debut can go platinum…insane.
It’s entirely plausible Dave D. I haven’t seen an unsigned (formerly) cat garner THIS much momentum since this dude who got shot 9 times.
That’s sayin’ sumptin’…
Not to mention, the power of ladies requesting your shit @ the club goes a long way in terms of sales, spins, visibility, notoriety, etc…
This is like the Kanye days back in 01-02.
As much as I find dude extremely ill, I’m hoping his debut isn’t 90% singing, 10% rapping. Dude’s a beast when rapping.
You may not like Drake, “but bitches do” © Katt Williams
Also…
Good post.
Sooooo, we got a lil’ Bushwick Wayne on the horizon.
Oh Joy. lol
@ Heff: Real talk. I heard that album from Danny! and dude is fucking dope on the rhymes AND beats. It just goes to show the mentality of some of the fans in hiphop; narrow-minded and intransigent, two examples:
1) Went to Rock The Bells last year and the line up was sick!!! Cool Kids were dope, Kidz In The Hall were dope, Jay Electronica was extra dope too. The crowd participation: Bullshit!!! People were only there to see Red & Meth (who rocked the crowd) and flooded the stage like groupies. I like Red & Meth, but I like the aforementioned acts too and think that they deserve at least some respect.
2) Went to see Cormega, Termanology (with Statik Selektah), and Sheek Louch (with Bully from D-Block). The local Toronto acts pretty much got the Danny! treatment but worse: thrown objects and death threats. Term did his thing, albeit for the small multitude of cats in attendance who were familiar with his material, but the majority of the crowd stayed stiff as mannequins. People kept on chanting “MEGA, MEGA!!!”, which resulted in Sheek getting bumped into the final performance slot. Mega came on stage and the crowd almost trampled security, flipping over the barricade and squishing ninjaz. Mega ripped it, dipped off stage and Sheek and Bully came out. Sheek killed it, but after Mega performed half of the crowd bounced leaving only the hardcore D-Block supporters. Sheek, obviously frustrated by this, cut his performance short and took off.
just ceded, not seceded.
the south seceded from the union, Drake did not do the same thing to the throne
@ OED: U should see this lil dude perform: DISGUSTING semblance to wayne. and he’s only like 14.
@Logik: He says it’s all rap.
*takes Brian’s lunch money*
@ Brian: duly noted.
I told y’all! Well, maybe not my folks here at TSS, but I told the world.
After I heard Drake’s “Heartbreak Drake” mixtape, I knew dude was going to blow. And getting a co-sign from the ladies is always a plus.
I’m happy for dude. I just hope that the grind that got him in the position he is in now, will continue to nourish his growth.
Good night.
^Pause my whole shit just in case.
Partying with some white girls for cinco de mayo – kinda twisted. I couldn’t decide if what I said needed to be paused, so “pause” just in case.
^ yeah, buddy, PAUSE that hole shit, LOL
classic…hard to believe it was unintentional, haha
so my real question about a Drake show hasn`t been answered yet…what type of females go to a Drake show? Because in my neck of the woods girls are luke warm about Drake…So if he does a show at the house of blues in Orlando i wanna know cause if the girls a Drake show are those coffee-shop chics that dress like Freddi from ‘A diffrent World’ then i’ll bring a girl im really into…if there’s a better selection then i’ll go with a girl thats just a “good” friend.
I just hope that the grind that got him in the position he is in now, will continue to nourish his growth.
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LOL
“I haven’t seen an unsigned (formerly) cat garner THIS much momentum since this dude who got shot 9 times.”
==============================
Let’s just hope he doesn’t reach the narcissistic level of said dude that got shot 9 times. Or at least reach that level without the ability to back it up again like said famous dude.
Damn…
:(
P’m still drinking too. II’m just going to stop typing.
can i just have a quick sidebar right here….
i’m sorry i’m so late, but “808s and Heartbreak” is a fuckin masterpiece…i know there’s like 2 or 3 throwaways, but Kanye really put some shit together…i’m sorry for hatin on the autotune and everything else…this cat made me a believer…Drake should hope and pray that he’s in the same category (ll)
I just hope that the grind that got him in the position he is in now, will continue to nourish his growth.
___
*dead*
As for the girl question: You would amputate 2 limbs for some of those women, good sire. This I guarantee.
How come nobody is talkin bout this Alfamega shit?
Once again, I’m going to redownload Drake and give him another shot. TSS making me regret my decisions about writing cats off constant.
i’m sorry i’m so late, but “808s and Heartbreak” is a fuckin masterpiece…
=======================================================
SMH @ all ya’ll that slept. YES. Even half of the TSS Crew.
How come nobody is talkin bout this Alfamega shit?
_____
because if u cant trust mega, u cant trust anyone.
feds be watching, b.
fuck it
*throws on that latest ‘Ye album*
hey hey hey heeeeyyyyyy
Danny Swain is my muthafuckin’ boy and it’s a shame they booed him. That being said, back in ‘06 I said that if I had a label I’d sign Danny and Drake on AllHipHop.com. Those dudes pretty much ran me off the site that day. Now in ‘09 who looks like they actually knew what the fuck they were talking about?
Me! That’s who! © Tony Montana
One.
drake aint
on motown
dat was rumor
When the official Drake album drops on Interscope, Motown (or whatever label he is signed to) wake me up before you go go, and I’ll give the CD a whirl or two, in the mean time, I’m still not convinced, but hey he is dropping mixtape material at the moment. So I won’t pass official judgment until an official album drops.
But he appears to have more swagger and charisma than Lupe Fiasco, so at least I can now distinguish between the two of them.
TSS Is Major!
When the official Drake album drops on Interscope, Motown (or whatever label he is signed to) wake me up before you go go, and I’ll give the CD a whirl or two, in the mean time, I’m still not convinced, but hey he is dropping mixtape material at the moment. So I won’t pass official judgment until an official album drops.
But he appears to have more swagger and charisma than Lupe Fiasco, so at least I can now distinguish between the two of them.
TSS Is Major!
was just flippin channels and came across that show Degrassi that Drake stars in…son plays a paralyzed character with a fucked up haircut
random…but i couldnt stop laughing
musically he’s doing his thing though (….)
@ Dart
“That being said, back in ‘06 I said that if I had a label I’d sign Danny and Drake on AllHipHop.com.”
_____
Link please.
Drake = the new Lauryn Hill…..without the Fugees of course.
blu, b.o.b, drake, wale, j.cole
the newest five furious next cat from the new generation in the game
I just hope that the grind that got him in the position he is in now, will continue to nourish his growth.
=========================================================
LOL
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Pause Police has issued a warrant for this statement and no Teef did not snitch. No Alfamega. lol
Danny is dope, hey all artist have to take their lumps. He took his.
I thought the mixtape was great for being a mixtape. Obviously he is generating a significant amount of buzz (look at the response from Contra’s post on this page alone). I hope his album has as much replay value as SFG.
Thanks you TSS….
The mixtape was great for being a mixtape. I just hope his album has as much replay value. I dont hate on dude for being on Degrassi…. Shit, in all honesty that show is what garnered him the ladies demographic. Most of the young ladies at his concerts/shows were fans of Degrassi 5 years ago before they were fans of Drake the rapper/artist. Good for him.
Great post Contra…. Thank you TSS.