Drake announces return of OVO Fest: 'See you this summer'

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After a three-year layaway, Toronto’s worst sports bettor Drake has announced the return of OVO Fest in Toronto this summer.

The rapper made the news official during a surprise appearance at Central Cee’s concert at Toronto’s History nightclub on Saturday.

“I’ll see you this summer, by the way” Drake said from the venue’s balcony in fan-shot video that was posted to social media. “OVO Fest will be back this year.”

The return of OVO Fest will be Drake’s first local show following last summer’s headline-making feud with Kendrick Lamar, which led to him suing his record label Universal Music Group.

The most recent edition of his star-studded music extravaganza took place in 2022 and saw Drizzy reuniting with his Young Money labelmates Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj. Notable Canadian artists Kardinal Offishall and Nelly Furtado also performed that weekend.

At that show, Complex said Drake credited Young Money label founder Wayne for helping him get his career start.

“You gave me $30,000 that I was able to bring home to my mother, and that changed the next. like, six months for us. Never forget. That’s the most important amount of money I’ve made in my life to date,” Drake said. 

“You’re the most important man to each and every one of us. You are truly the most selfless man on planet earth, to find all these people from across the motherf—ing world, bring us all together, give us all a shot … I would go to the ends of the earth for this man,” he continued. “You changed my f—ing life and you changed the city forever.”

Drake kicked off the summertime event at Molson Amphitheatre (now known as Budweiser Stage) in 2010 and the concerts have featured guest performances from Eminem, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder and The Weeknd, among others, over the years.

After a hiatus in 2018, the five-time Grammy winner brought out a gigantic version of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy to celebrate the Toronto Raptors’ NBA title at the 2019 edition of OVO Fest.

During 2017’s OVO Fest, the rhymer performed on a replica of the CN Tower.

“I called 19 companies to build me a CN Tower and they all said no, and then I called the 20th!” Drake said.

The night ended with a fireworks show that lasted for close to 15 minutes, which he dedicated to his friend Krispy, who recently passed.

Drake’s homecoming in Toronto will mark his first time playing in the city since his 2023 It’s All a Blur Tour.

Throughout that trek he kept up his streak of generosity going by offering to pay tuition for seven people in the crowd and pledging to cover one fan’s medical expenses as she battles multiple sclerosis.

“There’s a couple of things I want to do tonight,” the music superstar told the cheering crowd. “I don’t know if you’ve been watching these shows, but everywhere I go, I try and spread love and I try and help people the way I can. So tonight I want to do a bunch of things. First and foremost, I saw somebody that had a sign that said they paid for their ticket with OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) money. Somebody else had a sign that said, ‘Pay for my tuition’ … This is what I’m going to do. We’re paying for your tuition tonight and we’re paying for your tuition tonight. And we’re going to find five more people who need their tuition paid. I’m taking care of everything.”

Later, he singled out a fan with a sign that said, “I just found out I have MS.” Drake offered to connect her with his longtime musical collaborator Noah “40” Shebib, who also struggles with the illness, and then said he would help the concertgoer get treatment.

“I’m going to pay whatever it takes to get you the best help in the world, I promise you that. You got my word. And, you can come back tomorrow night.”

Another attendee scored a $10,000 shopping spree at Yorkdale Mall, with Billboard’s Artist of the Decade also pledging to help someone who helps their local community retire.

Elsewhere on that tour, the Hotline Bling hitmaker handed out a Birkin Bag (“Drake ain’t cheap!” he declared, as he scoured the crowd to find one lucky recipient), a Chanel handbag and stacks of cash.

When he noticed one fan at a show in Las Vegas with a sign saying they had spent their furniture money on tickets to the concert, Drake offered to help get them back on track. “My man, your furniture money, I’m gonna give you 50 bands tonight cause’ I love you,” he said.

Explaining his penchant for being generous with his fans in 2018, Drake said in a now-deleted Instagram post that sharing his wealth was something that brought him immense satisfaction.

“There’s nothing like seeing people experience a joyful moment when you can tell they need it the most,” he said.

mdaniell@postmedia.com

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