Drake's highly anticipated three-day residency at London's Wireless Festival came to an abrupt and disappointing close as the rapper's headline performance was abruptly halted after just 40 minutes. Stepping onto the stage a full ten minutes ahead of schedule, Drake informed the eager crowd that he intended to perform until his microphone was silenced by the stringent 21:30 curfew. The revelers were left feeling cheated, especially considering that Drake's set featured only three special guests: Popcaan, Rema, and Vybz Kartel—a far cry from the previous nights.
On Saturday, the 90-minute spectacle showcased an impressive 13 special guests, while Friday's performance mirrored this length and included six surprise appearances. Earlier in the day, the official setlist had hinted at two Drake sets—one at 18:25 and another at 20:55. However, the first set mysteriously vanished from the schedule during the afternoon, with only the planned performances from Vybz Kartel and Burna Boy proceeding as scheduled.
When Drake unexpectedly took the stage mere minutes after Burna Boy concluded his set, the fans were taken aback. The Canadian rapper's demeanor was markedly agitated, a stark contrast to his more jubilant attitude displayed on Friday and Saturday nights. Drake commenced his set with an unreleased collaboration with British rapper Central Cee, who lip-synched the lyrics from the front row, projected across the grand screens for all to see.
Throughout his performance, Drake appeared apologetic, promising to deliver a medley of his biggest hits to win over the crowd. "London, I will love you for the rest of my life," he vowed as he raced through a series of tracks, including Controlla, Find Your Love, and One Dance, all remixed and updated for 2025. Yet, despite their fresh arrangements, the songs felt hastily executed, making it challenging for fans to sing along.
A sudden appearance from Nigerian rapper Rema lifted the crowd's spirits, with tracks like Calm Down and Fever stealing the show. However, after a fleeting cameo from Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, who had earlier captivated a huge audience, there was only room for two more solo Drake numbers. For the third consecutive night, he ascended a crane to wave at the 50,000 attendees as Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You echoed through the speakers. But as this moment gained traction on social media, fans realized it signaled the premature end of a disappointingly brief headline set.
Drake had already fallen prey to the 22:30 curfew on Friday, with organizers cutting both his and Lauryn Hill's microphones and replacing show graphics with information about local train stations. He managed to keep timings in check better during Saturday's show, but it remains unclear whether he chose to begin his Sunday set 45 minutes before the event's conclusion.
As fans shuffled towards the exits, expressing their discontent, many were unaware of the strict local curfews enforced in the park. Some even lamented that they had spent more time queuing to enter the venue than watching Drake perform. While attempting to leave, we witnessed chaotic scenes at the accessible exit, where fans begged security to allow them to depart. They were told they would have to wait in a confined space for ten minutes or until other security personnel gave the all-clear. This led to a frenzy, with fans attacking barriers, shouting, and pleading that they were disabled and needed immediate assistance.
