Drake celebrated the return of his OVO Fest in Toronto on Monday night by bringing out some of his famous friends.
The hometown rap star welcomed Cardi B, Offset, Meek Mill, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, Tyga and others to the Budweiser Stage.
The night was a chance for Drake to show that his beefs with Mill, Brown and Tyga are well behind them. (At OVO Fest in 2015, Drake performed in front of Mill-mocking memes after the rapper accused Drake of using ghostwriters.)
It was also a surprising guest list considering some of the artists have felony convictions in the U.S. that would normally make them ineligible for admission to Canada.
“I got so many felonies I thought I’ll never go to Canada,” rapper Lil Baby admitted in an Instagram post. “But Drake Fucc Round An Pulled Some Strings An Now I’m On The Calendar.”
On Instagram, Mill wrote: “I’m off probation I should be able to get in Toronto easy.” He’s due in a Philadelphia court today to find out if he will be retried (his 2008 conviction on drug and gun charges was recently overturned by an appeals court).
Only two days earlier, Cardi told the crowd at the Veld festival that her husband Offset had been denied entry to Canada – and she blamed the Canada Border Services Agency for her late start at Veld.
Offset was charged in April with felony possession of firearms stemming from a traffic stop in July 2018. The 27-year-old rapper has existing felony convictions for burglary and theft. He also pleaded guilty to inciting a riot within a penal facility.
Cardi was indicted in June on 14 charges, including two counts of felony assault with intent to cause serious physical injury, stemming from an alleged attack on two strip club workers. She is awaiting trial.
Brown was convicted of felony assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 and was arrested last year on a felony battery warrant in connection to an attack on a Florida photographer. In 2015, Brown cancelled concerts in Toronto and Montreal after being denied entry to Canada.
Mane’s criminal record includes aggravated assault, battery and firearm possession by a convicted felon.
Ross served time for aggravated assault and is currently on probation for assault, battery, pointing a pistol at someone, and possession of less than one ounce of cannabis.
Drake joined Brown on their collaboration “No Guidance” and Ross on “Money in the Grave.” Cardi B did “Press” and “Bodak Yellow” before bringing Offset out to join her on their track “Clout.”
Also making appearances were YG, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby and DaBaby.
It was the first OVO Festival since 2017.
Watch some highlights below:
@iamcardib stuck around #the6ix for @Drake’s #ovofest and we couldn’t be happier! pic.twitter.com/Nn9WvgsU3e
— iHeartRadio Canada (@iHeartRadioCA) August 6, 2019
Not only did @iamcardib come out for #OVOFest but @OffsetYRN made it too! @Drake pulls out all the stops #clout pic.twitter.com/xOpreO0Stk
— iHeartRadio Canada (@iHeartRadioCA) August 6, 2019
@champagnepapi brought all the #trophies tonight!! 6️⃣ #OVOfest pic.twitter.com/mBtpEvunUB
— iHeartRadio Canada (@iHeartRadioCA) August 6, 2019
Tyga & Drake Officially Squashed Their Beef at #OVOFest! pic.twitter.com/N8CPyhZWjz
— DUNCAN (@sftyduncan) August 6, 2019
Guest number 8 @MeekMill #OVOFest pic.twitter.com/XkcjvzdUBV
— Nigel D. (@NigelDPresents) August 6, 2019
Drake brings out Chris Brown to perform #NoGuidance at #OVOFest pic.twitter.com/ppdIWijVnj
— Rap-Up (@RapUp) August 6, 2019