I’ve gone to three concerts this year, and I have to say Drake’s Summer Sixteen Tour stood out. Around 10 pm, Drake rose from beneath the stage sporting all black attire with the word “revenge” plastered in fiery letters behind him. As he took on the spotlight, the crowd roared with excitement.

After opening acts Roy Woods and dvsn and a lengthy DJ set, Drake followed with his hit single “Summer Sixteen.” The Verizon Center was booming with the rhythm of his song and the screaming fans that filled each section.

The Canadian artist, also known as 6 God, has a unique style. He delivers singing and rapping into a package that most artists cannot grasp. Drake’s broad repertoire of musical expression brings the most out of us. Songs like “Hotline Bling” made me want to show off some dance moves, while hits such as “The Motto” made me want to join a mosh pit.

Notwithstanding the fact that Drake is a phenomenal artist, his performance had its ups and downs. With the crowd hyped after the opening acts, Drake was a disappointment as he treated us with an uneventful 45-minute delay before his show. He later redeemed himself as he warmed up the crowd with some of his classic songs and positive connotations about Washington, D.C.

Although Drake managed to rap every song to perfection, his performance derailed when the rapper Future made his way to the stage. Drake promised a show with Future, but he headed backstage and left Future with a prolonged solo. Soon enough, Drake nonchalantly made his way back to the stage where he and Future performed hits from their album What a Time To Be Alive.

Drake impressed the crowd almost every moment of the show with his spirited energy. As he made his way around the arena performing “Hotline Bling” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” moving color-changing balloons descended from the ceiling. Fans all throughout the stadium waved their cell phone flashlights as they veered toward the buoyant platform.

The eventful night displayed Drake’s hip-hop platform on a whole new level. From hitting notes that most thought could only be reached by The Weeknd to spitting raps that had the entire stadium in awe, Drake exceeded all expectations.

Photos by Imani McCormick