Drake is making room for Canadian hip-hop royalty at this year’s OVO Fest by giving them their own night to shine.
The Toronto rapper has announced the lineup for what he’s dubbed the All Canadian North Stars Concert, a Thursday show that kicks off his annual long weekend musical extravaganza.
The concert will feature a dozen Canadian hip-hop and rap artists who he says “paved the way” for those who followed, including Choclair, Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, Keshia Chanté and Maestro Fresh Wes.
Others on the bill are Glenn Lewis, Shawn Desman, Frank-N-Dank, Saukrates, Vancouver rappers Rascalz and R&B group In Essence.
The concert will take place at History, a venue that opened with Drake’s support last November, with tickets going on sale Tuesday.
The Thursday show kicks off what Drake calls the October World Weekend: The Road to OVO Fest Tour, which moves Friday to Toronto’s Budweiser Stage for a concert featuring Chris Brown and Lil Baby.
On Monday, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj will lead a reunion of acts on the Young Money label at Budweiser Stage.
Drake has previously said he plans to take his OVO Fest on the road for its 10th anniversary in 2024 with dates “around the world”.
“Pop culture fanatic. Introvert. Devoted food trailblazer. Bacon geek. Lifelong coffee evangelist.”