Indianapolis, are you ready for Drake to take you to paradise?
That’s what the hip-hop recording artist and entertainer promises when he brings his Club Paradise tour to Klipsch Music Center on June 1.
“Club Paradise is something that I’ve crafted as a meeting place for fans of the music that I put out that enables them to really see the songs come alive,” Drake said in a conference interview that included the Indianapolis Recorder. “Already, it has definitely been the best tour that I’ve been on.”
Opening up for Drake are various up- and- coming artists including J. Cole, Meek Mill and French Montana.
“This tour is really about each individual act and what they bring to the table,” Drake said. “You will see a lot of different elements of hip-hop, singing and melody and R&B. With this tour I’m trying to cover all bases and bring the most exciting young and refreshing acts on stage together in one place on one night.”
The Club Paradise Tour is being held in support of Drake’s second studio album, “Take Care,” the latest success for the massively popular rapper and songwriter who is known for hits such as “I’m on One,” “Crew Love,” “She Will,” “Up All Night,” “Make Me Proud” and “The Motto.”
In addition to gaining notoriety for his own multi-platinum material, Drake has also become one of the most popular collaborators in the industry, working with artists like Lil’ Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Kanye West, Eminem and Jay-Z.
Drake began his career in entertainment in 2001 as an actor, appearing in the television series “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” as Jimmy Brooks, a basketball star who became disabled after being shot by a classmate.
Between 2006 and 2009, while continuing his acting career, Drake released a series of well received mix tapes, which quickly made him an underground hip-hop sensation and caught the attention of rap superstar Lil’ Wayne, who assisted Drake in releasing his first official album, “Thank Me Later,” in 2010.
The debut album sold more than 447,000 copies in its first week alone, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
In November, Drake released his sophomore album “Take Care,” to acclaim from appreciative fans. The supporting tour, Club Paradise, comes immediately after his sold out tour of colleges and universities.
So far, the Club Paradise Tour, which has already visited numerous cities in Europe and the United States, has received overwhelmingly favorable reviews from critics.
In a review of Drake’s recent performance in Houston, MTV reported that the rapper has “grown as a live performer” and has “the ability to make 15,000 fans feel as though they are in a small, intimate venue meant for 1,500” by singling out fans for “various compliments, comments and jokes.”
Drake attributes much of his success to the fact that he enjoys connecting with the fans that support his work and delivering performances they will want to see again.
“As far as my energy goes, I like to think of myself as a consistent performer,” he said. “I like to get out there and give my all every night, and I know all the guys on this tour are looking forward to doing the same thing.”
Drake promises a very engaging show for his Indianapolis area fans.
“I’m happy to extend myself from a budget and production standpoint to give people an absolutely stunning show from top to bottom, and that’s what this tour is,” he said. “You can expect a great array of performers and an exciting show. It will keep your attention and we will have a very exciting and interesting evening, for sure.”
