Drake Packs Debut Appearance at Apollo Theater for SiriusXM Exclusive Concert

In a first-ever appearance, Drake performed live at the Apollo Theater for SiriusXM to a packed house of SiriusXM subscribers and VIPs. The show will air on Drake’s exclusive SiriusXM channel Sound 42. Drake’s debut at the central venue of the historic Harlem Renaissance was the opener for a back-to-back two-night set at the Apollo Theater for SiriusXM.

Celebrities in attendance included: Justin and Hailey Bieber, A$AP Ferg, Kevin Durant, Ice Spice, Odell Beckham Jr., Gayle King, Richie Akvia, Michael Rubin, Will Makris, and more.

This marked the first time Drake performed at the Apollo Theater and his first full concert in years with Drake taking his fans through his biggest hits and deep cuts with the Apollo stage transforming from his childhood bedroom to a record label boardroom, a Harlem bodega and ending with the Apollo sign on stage. Kicking off the show in a replica of his childhood bed, Drake came out wearing a “Degrassi” jersey.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 21: Drake performs on stage at The Apollo Theater on January 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 21: Drake and 21 Savage performs on stage at The Apollo Theater on January 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Some of the songs Drake performed included Best I Ever Had, Headlines, HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right), God’s Plan, One Dance, In My Feelings, and more.

Drake brought out Dipset, dressed in Cam’ron’s famous pink mink, Drake with Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and Freekey Zekey performed I Really Mean It, Dipset Anthem and We Fly High (Ballin). Before leaving the stage Dipset gifted Drake with a custom OVO x Dipset bracelet. “These guys right here from Harlem made us dress different, talk different, walk different, rap different all the way in Canada,” Drake said. The videos for this highlight of the evening have gone viral and can be found just about everywhere.

#drake #ovo #dipset #apollo #harlem #hiphopxxiv pic.twitter.com/PN8H6PvBTc

— Hip Hop XXIV (@HipHopXXIV) January 22, 2023

Drake additionally brought out 21 Savage to perform a handful of songs from their recent album Her Loss, including Rich Flex, Privileged Rappers, Knife Talk, and Jimmy Cooks. While on stage they teased a joint tour this year.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: 21 Savage and Drake perform on stage at The Apollo Theater on January 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Before ending the show Drake thanked his fans saying, “I appreciate all of those people that stick by me.… but I deeply appreciate everybody for continuing to support us.” He added, “I’ve thought about a bunch of things in life, but at this moment in time none of those things are stopping making music for you, so I’ll be here for you for a little bit at least. And I hope I can strike up more emotions for you, maybe this year. I might get bored and make another one, who knows!”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: 21 Savage and Drake perform on stage at The Apollo Theater on January 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

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Tags: 21 Savage, Apollo Theater, concerts, Dipset, Drake, Events, Happenings, SiriusXM, Sound 42

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.