Drake closed out Wireless Festival 2025 with an explosive finale at Finsbury Park on Sunday night, transforming London’s 50,000‑strong crowd into a dancehall and global music celebration. The atmosphere was electric as fans waved Jamaican flags and danced under the summer sky. Jamaican dancehall legend Vybz Kartel made a surprise appearance – his first London show in 20 years – and tore through classics like “Picture This” and “Romping Shop.” Grinning from the stage, Kartel exclaimed, “Twenty years I haven’t been here. It’s a pleasure,” and the packed field roared in response. Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy also set the night alight, delivering hits like “Last Last,” “City Boys” and “Ye” from a makeshift “Burna’s Saloon” onstage. The crowd loved every minute, especially when 90s icon Lauryn Hill returned for a second time that weekend to join Burna Boy. Hill capped their collaboration with an impromptu, a cappella “Killing Me Softly” that sent cheers rippling through the park.
Drake himself promised London he’d play “until they cut my mic,” and he opened with a tease of a new collaboration with UK rapper Central Cee. He then thanked the crowd saying, “London, I will love you for the rest of my life,” before rushing through a medley of fan favorites – including dancehall‑flavored tracks like “Controlla” – to make the most of his curtailed slot. Nigerian singer Rema also popped up for a quick medley of “Calm Down” and “Fever,” reinforcing the set’s worldwide theme. A strict 9.30pm curfew meant Drake’s set ran only about 40 minutes, but he still climbed a stage crane to wave goodbye as Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” played, maintaining the joyful send‑off tradition from the previous nights.
Over the weekend Drake had curated each headlining night around a different genre. Friday’s show was all R&B, with Lauryn Hill, Bryson Tiller and Mario joining him to sing classic slow jams. Saturday became a UK rap showcase – Central Cee, Dave, Skepta and others took the stage as Drake rapped about how “London rappers are the best lyricists in the world.” But it was Sunday’s dancehall/global night that stole the show, highlighting Drake’s love for Caribbean and African sounds. In the end, the three‑night run at Finsbury Park underscored London’s role as a melting pot of music: fans left buzzing from a festival that celebrated both nostalgia and new sounds, united by Drake’s genre-spanning vision.
