Drizzy Drake Making Headlines

Sadhiya Moolji
February 17, 2012
Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Music

Grammy-nominated music phenomenon Drake, plans to “Shut It Down” like his hit single, at his upcoming concert at UT Arlington. Performing on March 2, the inaugural show is in honor of the campus’ new $78 million College Park Center.

The special-events center, holding 7,000 seats, consists of student housing, shops, garage-parking spaces and a greenery area. Though the price is astoundingly high, many families have committed almost $2 million in contribution to developing the center. The university hopes the complex will serve as an area to rally up students and boost up school spirit.

The UT Arlington Division of Student Affairs presents the concert by sponsoring it in part, restricting the tickets to UTA students and faculty only. Drake fans in the metroplex have expressed their disagreement towards this by finding a loophole and getting friends and UTA students to purchase tickets on their behalf. Some devotees, without connections, are willing to pay skyrocketing prices to see the rap sensation.

The concert is a part of Drake’s 17-city North American Club Paradise Tour, which kicks off Valentine’s Day in Miami and wraps up March 11 in San Diego. The tour is in support of his second studio album, Take Care. Though it was expected for Drake to hit up bigger arenas to matchup his superstar status, he’s chosen to make his way through smaller venues to perform for the audience that was there for him since day one. Drake has continually emphasized the album is for his supporters, and his actions are holding up to that.

Joining the music artist are Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky, two rappers he greatly respects and admires. Drake explained his choice of these guys over his much seen YMCMB crew by letting his fans know that they’re on level with the kind of music he’s into showcasing right now. Lamar also helped with the writing of a hot track off of Take Care entitled, “Buried Alive.”

The former Degrassi star hopes this sold-out concert will give back to his fan base. Although he has preformed in the Dallas area before, showcasing at a college campus is expected to amp up the intensity and adrenaline for the youngsters.