{"id":265621,"date":"2025-07-15T01:03:20","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T01:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/265621\/"},"modified":"2025-07-15T01:03:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T01:03:20","slug":"expertly-curated-but-its-host-lacks-conviction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/265621\/","title":{"rendered":"expertly curated, but its host lacks conviction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drake<\/a> thinks he\u2019s way cooler than he is. Back in 2009, when he first emerged \u2013 just a boy with bars and too many feelings \u2013 he was the underdog and a lovable cornball. Now? He\u2019s a stadium filler who performs like he\u2019s chasing validation, posturing as someone who shouldn\u2019t have made it. After a very public, musical beatdown from Kendrick Lamar last year<\/a>, it\u2019s no wonder he\u2019s still licking his wounds, as seen on his latest single, \u2018What Did I Miss?\u2019<\/a>. At Wireless Festival 2025, that disconnect between global superstar and seemingly insecure drifter is impossible to ignore.<\/p>\n

For its 20th anniversary, Wireless went all out: the biggest rapper in the world (statistically) headlining three nights at their Finsbury Park home. Drake, in theory, gets it right \u2013 he treats this weekend like \u201cthree OVO Fests back-to-back\u201d. Beforehand, the blueprint was clear: each night would be a thematic tribute to a different corner of his catalogue. What we also get is a reminder of how far the 6God has drifted from The Boy and his past gritty hunger into a shell of his former self, asking if we \u201cwant more\u201d instead of lapping up the devotion.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean watching Drake isn\u2019t still a rare, generational spectacle. As sparks and fire fly, you can\u2019t help but be mesmerised by the magnetism the rapper has. Even a Drake hater would swiftly drop their drink, screaming and waving manically at the Torontoian, floating over them on a glowing altar, highlighting an angelic halo around him. It\u2019s a forced-yet-iconic move he repeats every night, making the crowd sing Whitney Houston<\/a>\u2019s \u2018I Will Always Love You\u2019 to him. Surprisingly, it doesn\u2019t get old three times over.<\/p>\n

The rest of the weekend is something of a mixed bag. Night one is the strongest by far, the rapper using it to highlight overlooked greatness with guests Mario<\/a>, Bobby V, Giveon<\/a>, Bryson Tiller<\/a> \u2013 pioneers of modern moody R&B. Some of Drake\u2019s finest cult classics also get their moment in the spotlight, including \u2018Marvin\u2019s Room\u2019, \u2018Shot For Me\u2019, \u2018Feel No Ways\u2019, giving us the yearning version of the star we\u2019ve missed.<\/p>\n

The spell, though, gets broken when he brings PartyNextDoor<\/a> out to play some forgettable cuts from their latest album, \u2018$ome $exy $ongs 4 U\u2019<\/a>. A surprise appearance from Lauryn Hill<\/a> saves the day, Drake giving the barrier-breaking icon space not just to join him for his \u2018Ex-Factor\u2019-sampling 2018 single \u2018Nice For What\u2019, but also two of her own songs, too. It\u2019s history: two hip-hop needlemovers teaming up in front of a London crowd.<\/p>\n

\"DrakeDrake at Wireless 2025. Credit: Malique Stone<\/p>\n

The following nights, though, feel like afterthoughts. On Saturday\u2019s rap night, the undercard does the heavy lifting with UK underground trap heavyweights YT<\/a>, Len and Fimiguerrero and grime and UK rap pioneers Boy Better Know setting the whole park ablaze. Drake\u2019s set \u201cfor his dawgs\u201d can\u2019t live up to it, the definition of more bark than bite.<\/p>\n

He skips undeniable rap staples like \u2018Started From The Bottom\u2019, \u2018Worst Behaviour\u2019 and \u2018Over\u2019, and brings out a predictable line-up of guests: Skepta<\/a>, Dave<\/a>, Central Cee<\/a>, Latto<\/a>, Sexyy Red<\/a> and 21 Savage<\/a>, all of whom bring more energy than their host. There\u2019s one moment of brilliance, though, when he brings out rising London underground rapper Fakemink early on, proving that Drake can still spot the future even if he can\u2019t fully embody it himself anymore.<\/p>\n

By the time we reach Sunday\u2019s 40-minute rave session<\/a>, things reach peak confusion. There are carnival feathers, but no soca \u2013 instead, Drake gives some of his rhythmic pop-R&B songs an Afro-house makeover that\u2019s tasteless and mind-numbingly boring. It\u2019s a let-down \u2013 Jamaican pride swelled in the park earlier in the day as fans witnessed the king of dancehall, Vybz Kartel<\/a>, perform in London for the first time in 20 years, live-debuting bashment classics \u2018Clarks\u2019 and \u2018Romping Shop\u2019 with Popcaan<\/a> and Spice<\/a>, respectively. Drake\u2019s H&M shopfloor-filler revamps of \u2018Find Your Love\u2019 and\u2018Work\u2019, among others, do a solid job of flattening that buzz to the point that even teasing a new song with Central Cee<\/a> can\u2019t lift spirits.<\/p>\n

For all the scale and all the stats \u2013 most Billboard Number Ones, most streamed rapper ever, the fastest-selling Wireless edition in history \u2013 this should\u2019ve been Drake\u2019s victory lap, reminding us why he earned all his success. Instead, it feels like a man floating above his own myth, still chasing the love he\u2019s already received. The Boy became a man, sure \u2013 but Drake\u2019s record-breaking Wireless residency feels like he\u2019s yet to grow up.<\/p>\n

\"DrakeA dancer during Drake\u2019s set at Wireless 2025. Credit: Malique Stone<\/p>\n

Drake played:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

July 11<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Come And See Me\u2019
\u2018Marvins Room\u2019
\u2018Teenage Fever\u2019
\u2018Virginia Beach\u2019
\u2018Feel No Ways\u2019
\u2018Passionfruit\u2019
\u2018Hours In Silence\u2019
\u2018Shot For Me\u2019
\u2018Jungle\u2019
\u2018Jaded\u2019
\u2018Slow Down\u2019
\u2018Let Me Love You\u2019
\u2018Chicago Freestyle\u2019
\u2018Twenties\u2019
\u2018Heartbreak Anniversary\u2019
\u2018Whatever She Wants\u2019
\u2018Exchange\u2019
\u2018CN Tower\u2019
\u2018Moth Balls\u2019
\u2018Spider-Man Superman\u2019
\u2018Die Trying\u2019
\u2018OMW\u2019
\u2018Somebody Loves Me\u2019
\u2018Pimmie\u2019s Dilemma\u2019
\u2018Nokia\u2019
\u2018I Will Always Love You\u2019
\u2018Ready Or Not\u2019
\u2018Ex-Factor\u2019
\u2018Nice For What\u2019
\u2018In My Feelings\u2019<\/p>\n

July 12<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018IDGAF\u2019
\u2018No Face\u2019
\u2018Circadian Rhythm\u2019
\u2018What Did I Miss?\u2019
\u2018Headlines\u2019
\u2018Energy\u2019
\u2018Know Yourself\u2019
\u2018Nonstop\u2019
\u2018Sicko Mode\u2019
\u2018LV Sandals\u2019
\u2018Music And Me\u2019
\u2018Only You Freestyle\u2019
\u201850s\u2019
\u2018Warm\u2019
\u2018Who Told You\u2019
\u2018Shutdown\u2019
\u2018Wanna Know\u2019
\u2018Sprinter\u2019
\u2018Band4Band\u2019 \/ \u2018Doja\u2019 \/ \u2018Day In The Life\u2019
\u2018Obsessed With You\u2019 \/ \u2018Overseas\u2019
\u2018Laugh Now Cry Later\u2019
\u2018God\u2019s Plan\u2019
\u2018You Broke My Heart\u2019
\u2018Nokia\u2019
\u2018Somebody Loves Me\u2019
\u2018Brokey\u2019
\u2018Big Mama\u2019
\u2018Get It Sexyy\u2019 \/ \u2018SkeeYee\u2019 \/ \u2018Pound Town\u2019 \/ \u2018Looking For The Hoes\u2019
\u2018Rich Baby Daddy\u2019
\u2018Knife Talk\u2019
\u2018Rich Flex\u2019
\u2018A Thousand Miles\u2019
\u2018I Will Always Love You\u2019<\/p>\n

July 13<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Unreleased Central Cee collaboration\u2019
\u2018Come Closer\u2019
\u2018Who Told You\u2019
\u2018Signs\u2019
\u2018Controlla\u2019 \/ \u2018Too Good\u2019 \/ \u2018Find Your Love\u2019 \/ \u2018Work\u2019 \/ \u2018Passionfruit\u2019 \/ \u2018No Guidance\u2019 \/ \u2018Hold On, We\u2019re Going Home\u2019 \/ \u2018One Dance\u2019
\u2018One Dance\u2019
\u2018Find Your Love (Remix)\u2019
\u2018Baby (Is It A Crime)\u2019
\u2018Favorite Girl\u2019
\u2018Calm Down\u2019
\u2018Dumebi\u2019
\u2018Ozeba\u2019
\u2018Summer Time\u2019
\u2018Hotline Bling\u2019
\u2018Nokia\u2019
\u2018I Will Always Love You\u2019
\u2018Fever\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Drake thinks he\u2019s way cooler than he is. Back in 2009, when he first emerged \u2013 just a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":265622,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3936],"tags":[77,16345,269,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-265621","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"tag-entertainment","9":"tag-hip-hop","10":"tag-music","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114854560038318497","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=265621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265621\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/265622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=265621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=265621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=265621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}