Toronto Dancehall Triumph
Drake Surprises Toronto Crowd at Vybz Kartel's Historic Three Sold-Out Scotiabank Arena Shows
Anonymous
Late October, Drake made a surprise appearance at Vybz Kartel’s first-ever Canadian concert at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, performing hits including “Which One,” “Nokia,” and “Controlla.” Onstage he recalled handing out flyers as a teen outside the Escape Nightclub and welcomed Kartel as he launched three sold-out Toronto shows presented by Drake’s OVO (an extra date was added due to high demand). Kartel—dressed in Blue Jays gear—became the first Jamaican artist to sell out three shows at the venue after his 2014 murder conviction was overturned by the U.K. Privy Council in March 2024 and his release later that year. Since his release he has earned a Grammy nomination, released new music and resumed touring. Drake and Kartel have performed together before at London’s Wireless Festival and have teased a forthcoming collaboration that could appear on Drake’s anticipated Iceman project.
Key Points
1
Drake performed his surprise mini-set from a lower-level balcony inside Scotiabank Arena, rather than from the main stage.
2
The studio version of Kartel-favored song “Which One” features U.K. rapper Central Cee.
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Kartel recorded several albums covertly while incarcerated, including the 2016 Billboard-charting album King of the Dancehall.
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Since his release, Kartel has appeared on other high-profile releases — including a feature on a Travis Scott track released in July — and continues to collaborate widely.
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Onstage Drake urged the crowd, saying, “Look at all these people right here, how much time we've spent with this man's music right here,” and later told Kartel, “We’ve been waiting to see you our whole [expletive] lives. Welcome home — we’re so happy to have you.”
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