Drake’s final headline performance at London’s Wireless Festival ended on a bum note when the rapper’s slot wrapped up after 40 minutes on Sunday.
The Canadian artist took to the stage ten minutes ahead of schedule, warning fans he’d keep performing “until they cut my mic” in reference to the strict 9.30pm curfew.
But despite the early start, fans were left disappointed as the 38-year-old brought out just three guest performers; Popcaan, Rema and Vybz Kartel.
The minimal lineup was a stark contrast to Saturday’s 90-minute spectacle, which featured a whopping 13 surprise guests and Friday’s show featured six.
Earlier in the day, the official schedule listed Drake for two appearance - one at 6.25 pm and another at 8.55pm.
However, the first slot quietly vanished from the lineup by the afternoon, while Vybz Kartel and Burna Boy performed as originally planned.
Drake opened his set with a previously unheard track featuring UK rapper Central Cee, who remained offstage but was seen mouthing the lyrics from the front row, his reactions broadcast on the venue’s big screens.
Throughout the performance, the Canadian star appeared apologetic, reassuring fans he’d deliver a set packed with fan favourites.
He told the crowd: “London, I will love you for the rest of my life,” as he raced through a medley of tracks, Controlla, Find Your Love and One Dance, in an effort to lift the mood.
According to BBC News, Nigerian star Rema gave the crowd a much-needed boost with a surprise appearance, energising fans with standout performances of Calm Down and Fever.
Jamaican dancehall icon Vybz Kartel also made a brief return to the stage after his earlier solo set, but the clock was ticking - and Drake only managed to squeeze in two final solo tracks before the night wrapped.
Keeping with tradition from the previous two shows, he ended the evening by climbing onto a crane to wave farewell to the 50,000-strong crowd as Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You played across the park.
After generating major buzz online over the weekend, fans soon recognised the familiar closing cue, marking the end of what many felt was an unexpectedly short headline set.
On Friday, Drake had already run up against the event’s strict 10.30pm curfew, with organisers cutting his and Lauryn Hill’s microphones mid-show and flashing travel information for nearby train stations across the big screens.
While Saturday's gig adhered to curfew on time, Sunday’s pre-emptive start may have been a decision by Drake himself to avoid another truncated set.
However, many expressed their frustration online, admitting they had not anticipated such a strict cutoff.
One penned on X: “drake’s wireless set being 45 minutes today is the definition of daylight robbery. my head is hot.
“Wireless was good man.. Drake set was crazy short and very underwhelming though,” another penned. “Also very annoying that Vybz and Burna’s mics kept f**king up and then they got cut off. Decent day though.”
“Overall Wireless was so dope. Kinda felt short changed on the Drake set for day 3, I thought the Future DJ set thing was innovative, but doing house remixes to ALL the classics?!” a fan shared. “Would have been much better hearing the OG versions IMO.”
A fourth claimed: “Yeah I'm still p***ed That second mystery Drake set that disappeared off the Wireless app makes a lot more sense now.”
Following the show, Drake shared a selection of shots from his performances alongside a cryptic caption, writing: “Thank you London.
“Need some time to process what just happened so I don’t have my usual caption…just thank you so much for the best 3 nights of my performance career.”
The rapper signed a multimillion-pound deal to headline all three nights of Wireless this year – a first for any artist – with his run at the north London festival forming part of his ongoing 2025 tour.
During Saturday’s performance, Drake declared London rappers the best lyricists on the planet.
The Grammy-winning superstar brought out UK heavyweights Dave, Central Cee and J Hus as surprise guests during his performance on the main stage in Finsbury Park.
“London rappers are the best lyricists in the world,” he said during his set. “No disrespect to America, but nobody in the world can out-rap London rappers.
“This is the highest level – this is what I aspire to be.”
The Standard has contacted Wireless and Drake’s reps for comment.
