The Canadian superstar kicked off a record-breaking three-night residency with R&B anthems, surprise guests, and a reminder of why he's still at the top of the game.
London's Wireless Festival has never been short on spectacle. But for its 20th anniversary, it pulled off something truly unexpected. Canadian rapper Drake returned to the UK stage for the first time in six years — and not just for one night. For the first time in the festival's two-decade history, a single artist is headlining all three nights. And if night one was anything to go by, Drake is out to prove why he's still one of the most bankable names in hip-hop.
Set in the greenery of Finsbury Park, Wireless 2025 welcomed more than 50,000 fans under blistering 32-degree heat. While the lead-up was plagued by confusion — the full lineup was revealed just four days prior, stage visibility in the front pen was poor, and a mic issue left surprise guest Kehlani's cameo flat — opening night still managed to rise above the chaos and deliver a euphoric love letter to R&B.
The day began with an almost picnic-like vibe, as early acts eased the crowd into the mood. UK rising star Odeal brought his signature soul, while former Disney actor-turned-singer Leon Thomas brought the vibes. The sun was shining, but it was Summer Walker's set that truly brought the heat. Drenched in a futuristic, pink-planetary aesthetic — think Destiny's Child meets Blade Runner — she glided through her sultry back-catalogue with confidence, even teasing a few older tracks for the day ones in the crowd.
But there was no mistaking who everyone had come to see. As the evening light faded, Drake took to the stage. Dressed in a black leather vest, with fresh cornrows, a bandana in hand, and a confident strut, he rattled off hit after hit, including "Virginia Beach," and the J. Lo sampled "Teenage Fever" before pivoting into crowd-pleasers like "Passionfruit" and "Shot for Me."
We often see Drake the rapper and forget about his R&B roots, but his vocal prowess was on full display throughout the slick two-hour set. For fans who have followed him since the "So Far Gone" era, it felt like a reunion. "Tonight's not about the newest, the latest, the greatest," Drake told the crowd. "It's about if you've been here since day one."
He wasn't alone. Drake invited some of his R&B heroes, including Bobby Valentino, Mario, Bryson Tiller and Giveon, to perform. Yet it wasn't until fellow Canadian and longtime collaborator PARTYNEXTDOOR joined him on stage that things really went off. Their joint 2025 release, "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U", performed live for the first time, dominated much of the set, with slick transitions between top tracks like "CN Tower," "Moth Balls," "Spider-Man Superman," "Die Trying" and "Somebody Loves Me." Make no mistake, this was a Drake show, and as the song of the summer, "Nokia" began to play, the rapper jumped into a crane that catapulted him across the crowd.
Just when it seemed the night had peaked, Drake upped the ante. "We're calling it Wireless," he teased, "but I'm treating this like three nights of OVO Fest", and with that, he welcomed none other than Lauryn Hill to the stage. A collective gasp echoed across Finsbury Park as the legendary artist stepped into the spotlight for a brief but breathtaking rendition of "Lost Ones", before seguing into the Drake-assisted "Nice For What" and closing the night with "In My Feelings" to raucous applause. It was a moment that felt both intimate and historic.
Of course, not everything hit the mark. Kehlani's surprise appearance was marred by technical issues, and some fans were still grumbling about the late lineup announcement. But as Wireless enters its third decade, there's no denying its cultural relevance as Europe's biggest hip-hop festival, or Drake's enduring grip on the game.
It's been over a decade since my last Wireless — the 2013 edition, where Justin Timberlake in his "Suit & Tie" era, shared top billing with Jay-Z, and Frank Ocean was relegated into a tent to perform while Ke$ha cavorted on the main stage with a giant inflatable phallus. The festival has come a long way and brought big names including Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Outkast, Pharrell Williams and Rihanna along for the ride.
Drake's opening night wasn't just a performance; it was a flex. A reminder that even amid rap beefs and shifting trends, his crown hasn't slipped.
GO: Visit wirelessfestival.co.uk for tickets and updates.