Drake 2010: short and sweet
Des Letemps
Contributing Writer
Thousands of screaming fans packed the Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center Feb. 3 for VCU’s 2010 homecoming concert featuring Drake.
As fans found their seats, Richmond’s DJ Rayvon spun typical hip-hop nightclub music. The audience, which was mostly made up of of 20-something females, danced as they awaited the show’s start.
The night moved swiftly as hip-hop trio Tanya Morgan hit the stage shortly after 7:30 p.m. They performed over other artist’s beats and incorporated some original material, including a new song in the works with Drake.
After Morgan’s brief set, more interlude music blasted in an attempt to keep the crowd energized. Around 8:20 p.m. the sounds of “Lust for Life” twinkled through the speakers and the venue erupted with screams.
Drake came to the stage in khaki pants and a brown leather jacket and immediately performed the song, followed closely by others from his “So Far Gone” mixtape.
He stood alone on the stage when he referenced his mentor Lil’ Wayne’s impending jail sentence. Drake rapped Wayne’s verses on some of the songs on which he’s featured, including an aggressive performance of “I’m Goin’ In.”
Fellow Young Money artist Tyga then joined Drake for a surprising performance of “Bedrock” from the “We Are Young Money” album.
“It was exciting to see Tyga. I like him. He’s cute!” said concert attendant Rabia Kamara.
After a telling story on the “Throw It in the Bag” remix, Drake had an even bigger surprise for the audience. The pace slowed dramatically to the sounds of “A Night Off.” The record, which ordinarily features yet another Young Money artist, featured someone all too familiar to the Richmond area.
Virginia native Chris Brown’s presence at the show was rumored late Wednesday afternoon when he, Drake and Tyga were spotted eating at Shafer Dining Court. Within minutes, word spread through Facebook and Twitter about the celebrities dining on the Monroe Park campus.
The Tappahannock native crept on stage to uproars worthy of a Backstreet Boy legend, while Drake continued to softly sing. Brown removed his shades and robustly crooned his own words to the song. Lyrics about licking metaphorical ice cream only furthered the screams from the mostly female audience.
The two hugged and Brown left the stage before Drake continued to serenade the audience. “You, in the purple shirt. Girl, tell me how to get you,” he sang specifically to one concert-goer.
“Any award show or Grammy, I get fly for it,” he rapped, changing the lyrics to indicate his recent trip to the award show. Drake’s excitement remained constant during his set. His jovial smile showed that he truly appreciated his acclaim as an artist and performer.
Energetic performances of “Say Something” and “Best I Ever Had” preceded the final performance of the night. Drake’s song selection for his set was a balance of R&B, pop and hip-hop for his ample fan base but all were hyped up for his acclaimed “Forever.”
“She insists she’s got more class,” Drake said before pointing the microphone to the audience. “We know!” they replied. The lyrics, “I don’t plan on stopping at all,” seemed to encapsulate Drake’s career motivation but were contrary to his regrettably brief performance.
“That’s it?” echoed throughout the Siegel Center. Drake thanked the audience and left the stage 45 minutes after he first stepped on it. Though he performed a total of 17 songs, many of them were single verses and/or choruses from songs he collaborated on.
Its premature ending seems to be the only complaint from concert-goers to an otherwise homecoming-worthy show.
