Drake’s ‘It’s All a Blur’ tour is one of the most highly anticipated concert tours of the year. As one of the biggest hip-hop and R&B artists in the world, Drake always brings an incredible lineup of opening acts to warm up the crowd before he takes the stage. For this tour, Drake has assembled an all-star group of openers that his fans are sure to love.
Migos
Kicking off most shows on the North American leg of Drake’s tour will be Migos, the chart-topping hip-hop trio from Atlanta. Migos first burst onto the scene in 2013 with their hit ‘Versace’ and have been dominating ever since. Their album ‘Culture’ was one of the biggest rap records of 2017. Migos have previously joined Drake on tour in 2018 and their high-energy performances are the perfect way to get the party started for the main event.
Lil Baby
Another big name playing select dates on the tour is Lil Baby, one of the hottest new rappers out of Atlanta. Since releasing his debut mixtape in 2017, Lil Baby’s profile has continuously risen and his 2018 album ‘Harder Than Ever’ reached number 3 on the Billboard charts. His music style and image are often compared to Drake’s and the two have recorded multiple songs together. Having Lil Baby open the show ensures that the hype levels will be high when Drake finally takes the stage.
Chris Brown
The R&B superstar Chris Brown will be opening a number of shows on the European leg of the tour. Drake and Chris Brown were formerly rivals but squashed their beef in 2019 and even have some new music together. Brown is one of the most accomplished R&B artists of the past decade, with over 140 million records sold worldwide. He always brings energy and incredible dance moves to his live shows. His opening set will be a great compliment to Drake’s headlining performance.
RNB Fridays Live
When the tour stops in Australia, Drake has tapped the RNB Fridays Live concert series to open for him. RNB Fridays Live is essentially an all-star revue of the best rhythm and blues artists from Down Under. For the Drake shows, they are expected to bring out their A-team roster which includes Taio Cruz, Jax Jones, Arrested Development and many more. This gives fans in Australia a chance to see some of their local favorites while also watching an international icon in Drake.
Delay
Up-and-coming Toronto R&B singer Delay will be gracing the stage as Drake’s opener for a string of Canadian tour dates. Delay first made waves with her 2015 EP ‘1800 Deep’ and has continued honing her throwback R&B sound ever since. Having a fellow Torontonian kick off Drake’s shows in his hometown makes perfect sense. Delay said she is incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to open for the biggest artist in the 6!
City | Venue | Date | Opening Act |
---|---|---|---|
New York | Madison Square Garden | June 1st, 2023 | Migos |
Chicago | United Center | June 10th, 2023 | Lil Baby |
Toronto | Scotiabank Arena | June 25th, 2023 | Delay |
London | The O2 Arena | July 10th, 2023 | Chris Brown |
Sydney | Qudos Bank Arena | July 30th, 2023 | RNB Fridays Live |
What can fans expect from these opening acts?
Based on past live performances from Migos, Lil Baby, Chris Brown, and RNB Fridays Live, fans attending the ‘It’s All A Blur’ tour can expect high levels of energy and entertainment before Drake even takes the stage. All of the openers know how to work a crowd into a frenzy with their own hit songs while also paying tribute to Drake. Migos, Lil Baby, and Chris Brown will play their own chart-topping rap and R&B songs to get the crowd hyped. RNB Fridays Live will jam through fan favorites from their roster of artists to create a nonstop party atmosphere. No matter which opening act is performing, the vibe inside the arena will be palpable by the time Drake finally emerges to close out the show.
Migos
Migos always bring super high energy and infectious party anthems like ‘Bad and Boujee’, ‘Walk It Talk It’, ‘Stir Fry’ and more. They rap over beats that get the crowd jumping and have enough hits to fill their whole opening set without any filler. All three members of Migos are electric on stage, feeding off the crowd’s energy. Expect a set filled with bangers and sing-alongs.
Lil Baby
Lil Baby’s performances are known to get fans excited with his trap-influenced rap style and flair. He’ll run through hits from ‘Harder Than Ever’ and ‘My Turn’ like ‘Yes Indeed’, ‘Woah’, and ‘Emotionally Scarred’ with his gravelly, melodic flow. Lil Baby’s stage presence is dynamic, matching the varying pace and emotions of his tracks. The bass will be booming for his set.
Chris Brown
As one of the best dancers in the R&B world, Chris Brown’s shows are filled with smooth choreographed moves and singing. He’ll grind and glide across the stage while belting out smashes like ‘Yeah 3x’, ‘Loyal’, ‘Run It’, and ‘With You’. Being the consummate entertainer, Brown also brings elaborate production elements like costumes, special effects, and dancers. His vocals and dance routines heat up the crowd.
RNB Fridays Live
RNB Fridays Live brings a nonstop party vibe with back to back hits spanning different eras and styles of R&B. Their set will be filled with chart toppers from Taio Cruz, Jax Jones, Arrested Development, Usher, Montell Jordan, Blackstreet, and many more. With multiple singers and rappers sharing the stage, there will be superb energy and variety. The crowd will get a taste of pop, funk, soul, and hip hop.
How will these acts complement Drake’s headlining set?
All of the selected opening acts serve as a perfect complement for Drake’s eventual headlining performance. Since Drake pulls from a range of styles like rap, R&B, pop, and afrobeats in his own music, it makes sense to have openers that represent different genres. The rap energy of Migos and Lil Baby helps ramp the crowd up and plays into Drake’s harder hip hop side. Chris Brown and RNB Fridays Live tap more into Drake’s R&B and pop influences for a well-rounded palette. No matter who is opening, the crowd will be fully energized and ready to sing along with Drake’s wide-ranging catalog of hits when he takes over the remainder of the show.
Gets the party started
A great opening act should help get the party started – setting the stage for the headliner to take it even higher. All of these openers are experts at getting the crowd on their feet and in the right party mood before handing things over to Drake. Whether through bangers from Migos and Lil Baby or smooth jams from Chris Brown and RNB Fridays Live, the openers start the night off with great energy.
Range of musical styles
Drake is known for blending multiple musical styles – hard rap, R&B, bounce, pop, dancehall, afrobeats, and more. Having openers that cover the rap, R&B, and pop spectrum primes the audience for the diversity they’ll hear when Drake hits the stage. No matter your musical taste, one of the openers is sure to satisfy it.
Features and collaborations
Many of the openers have released popular songs and collaborations with Drake. Migos, Lil Baby, and Chris Brown have all appeared on Drake’s albums and tracks. Hearing these joint hits live during the openers’ sets will create anticipation and recognition for when Drake performs them as the headliner. The crowd will get double excitement for certain songs.
Hometown tributes
Certain opening acts pay homage to Drake’s hometown roots. Having fellow Canadian R&B songstress Delay open the Toronto shows is the ultimate local tribute. Even US rappers like Lil Baby and Migos represent Drake’s hip hop culture and Southern references despite being from a different country. The openers tip the cap to Drake’s musical foundations.
Setlist Expectations
Given the incredible collection of hits Drake has amassed over his decorated career, possibilities for his setlist on this tour are virtually endless. However, based on previous tours and live shows, fans can expect him to touch on all eras of his discography, including early mixtape classics, smash records from his recent albums ‘Scorpion’, ‘Certified Lover Boy’, and ‘Honestly, Nevermind’, as well as cuts from his upcoming album. He delivers a range of vibes in his shows from hard rap bangers to more chilled out R&B and dance numbers. Drake always brings surprise guests and mixes to keep fans guessing as well. No matter what he plays, it will be an epic experience.
Probable Songs
Some songs that seem highly likely to be included based on past setlists are:
- “Started From the Bottom”
- “Headlines”
- “HYFR”
- “All Me”
- “Versace”
- “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
- “Hotline Bling”
- “God’s Plan”
- “In My Feelings”
- “Nice For What”
- “Laugh Now Cry Later”
- “Way 2 Sexy”
- “Knife Talk”
- “Jimmy Cooks”
Potential Rare Cuts or Guest Appearances
There’s also a strong chance Drake may perform deeper album cuts, songs he’s recently featured on with other artists, or special one-off collaborations. Potential surprises could include:
- “4PM In Calabasas”
- “Gyalchester”
- “Jungle”
- “Child’s Play”
- “Controlla”
- “Teenage Fever”
- “Diplomatic Immunity”
- “Trophies”
- “Energy”
- “Massive” with J. Cole
- “Falling Back” with Tems
- “Wait For U” with Future and Tems
- “Sticky” with Future
- “No Friends In the Industry” with G Herbo
- Appearances from Lil Baby, Chris Brown, or other tour openers
Conclusion
It’s clear that Drake has put together an absolutely stacked lineup of today’s hottest hip-hop and R&B acts to open his ‘It’s All a Blur’ tour. Migos, Lil Baby, Chris Brown, and RNB Fridays Live are sure to get the crowd hyped with their own hits while paying homage to Drake’s versatile styles and influences. By the time Drake takes over the remainder of each show, fans will be bursting with energy and ready to rap and sing along to his wide array of smash hits, deep cuts, and surprise appearances. This tour is guaranteed to be an incredible and memorable night of music from start to finish.