Drake & Migos
Toyota Center
September 29, 2018


It was a night that many in Houston have been anticipating for months. This would be the last celebration of the summer, the final soirée before the holidays. A night that was special enough to debut that killer outfit you've been saving for just the right occasion, and one that would provide sufficient "photos with Drake" to resurrect your "weak as fuck" Instagram timeline.

Saturday night was the first of three Houston shows on the Aubrey & The Three Migos Live! tour, one that saw more than 17,000 fans crowd into the Toyota Center for a night of trap rap and heavy "In Your Feelings" R&B.

Drake began his set by honoring a young lady named Sabrina Hererra, a 19-year-old fan from Missouri City who was tragically murdered by her boyfriend back in August.

"I'm not bringing this up to depress y'all" said Drake. "I just want all of us to celebrate her life, and at the same time celebrate all of our lives, because you never know, ya know..."

Its gestures like these that makes me a Drake fan. Sure he can be corny and strange at times, speaking in fake Jamaican patois or posting cryptic photos on his Instagram, taking part in rap beefs, and "hiding the world from his son". But at the end of the day, the dedication he portrays to his fans and his music is exceptional, and his stage presence is one of the best in the game.

The night began with Migos as the opening act. They are the most popular rap group in show business right now, churning out hit after hit, one catch phrase and repetitive set of lyrics at a time.

They are the epitome of a boy band for the 21st century, charismatic in their own personal space, but downright electric one they hit the track or stage together. They certainly benefitted from the stage production on this tour, complete with a basketball court sized video board and dazzling pyrotechnics.


"I get freaky when I get to Houston, Texas man!" proclaimed Drake as the show decelerated towards the end. "Show me that you're still alive in this motherfucker!" he pleaded, inciting a tremendous roar from the crowd.

Its been almost ten years since that May 2009 show at Warehouse Live that he credits as part of his early development. We've seen Drake grow into arguably the biggest artist in entertainment, and certainly hope the next decade proves to be equally as amazing.

Personal Bias: Neither a Drake hater or a "Stan". He does have some bangers though, and definitely knows how to put on a good show.

The Crowd: People from a wide spectrum of the city came out to the show in force. Young, old, black, white, rich, poor, and everything in between. Drake himself noticed and applauded Houston for coming together to celebrate even during the "tough times being endured in America" these days.

Overheard In The Crowd: "Which one is Cardi B's baby daddy?" asked the random stranger sitting next to me.

"The one in the blue" I responded, pointing to Offset as he bounced across the stage.

"Oh right!" she replied. "He's my favorite Migo!"

<insert confused Swaggy P meme here>

Random Notebook Dump: The first time I photographed Drake was backstage at Warehouse Live in 2009. It was that Bun B & Friends show that began my career as a music photographer and journalist.