ItB次元官网网址檚 easy to forget how many hit songs Drake created in his nearly 15-year musical career. But he presented an emphatic reminder with an intimate concert at HarlemB次元官网网址檚 Apollo Theater on Saturday, his first-ever show at the legendary venue.

During the performance, the four-time Grammy winner teased that new music could be on the way, despite releasing two albums last year.

B次元官网网址淚 thought about a bunch of things in life, but at this moment in time, none of those things are stopping making music for you,B次元官网网址� Drake told the doting crowd. B次元官网网址淚 hope I can strike up some more emotions for you, maybe this year B次元官网网址� I might get bored and make another one.B次元官网网址�

The first night of two Apollo weekend shows presented by SiriusXM, featured the 36-year-old ripping off songs at a frantic pace B次元官网网址� most with just a verse and chorus B次元官网网址� satisfying day-one fans with fan-favorite, deep non-radio cuts as well as those only familiar with his No. 1 hits. The recorded performances will air on DrakeB次元官网网址檚 SiriusXM Sound 42 channel in the coming weeks.

Noting this was his first show in about five years and later stating B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be out and about on the road a lot this year,B次元官网网址� SpotifyB次元官网网址檚 most-streamed artist in the U.S. last year told his captivated audience the show was about gratefulness.

B次元官网网址淚 wanted to make this a show about gratitude,B次元官网网址� Drake said. B次元官网网址淭his is a little story we put together: my deep love for my family, for my dear friends and each and every one of you that have been supporting me for a long time.B次元官网网址�

Donning cornrows while wearing baggy jeans and a blue and yellow Jimmy Brooks basketball jersey B次元官网网址� a nod to his days as an actor on the teen drama series B次元官网网址淒egrassiB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Drake opened the performance with B次元官网网址淥ver My Dead BodyB次元官网网址� as celebrity guests such as Justin and Hailey Bieber, former NBA MVP and current Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, NFL star Odell Beckham Jr., rappers A$AP Ferg and A Boogie wit da Hoodie watched.

Sitting on a bed positioned stage-right, modeled after his bedroom in his momB次元官网网址檚 Toronto basement where he said he wrote songs, Drake belted out many of his down-tempo, B-side hits such as B次元官网网址淲u-Tang Forever,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭rust Issues,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淧racticeB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淔eel No Ways.B次元官网网址�

He also sang his most popular deep cut, B次元官网网址淢arvinB次元官网网址檚 Room,B次元官网网址� as the standing-room only crowd joined him word-for-word before transitioning into his hook from TimbalandB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淪ay SomethingB次元官网网址� as the B次元官网网址淢arvinB次元官网网址檚 RoomB次元官网网址� beat continued.

As the bedroom set dimmed and the light shifted to the left side of the stage, revealing a board room, Drake changed into a black leather hoodie with his OVO owl symbol. The rapper stood in front of a performer playing a record label exec who skeptically noted it was B次元官网网址渋nterestingB次元官网网址� he was a rapper from Canada, before saying, B次元官网网址淎lright, letB次元官网网址檚 see what you got.B次元官网网址� (Drake would later remind the crowd how every major record label in New York passed on him.)

Starting with B次元官网网址淏est I Ever Had,B次元官网网址� the R&B smash that jump-started his career, he continued his musical journey with early Young Money-era hits such as Headlines, B次元官网网址淗YFR,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淪tarted From the BottomB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 on One.B次元官网网址� The crowd also two-stepped to his more danceable records like B次元官网网址淢assiveB次元官网网址� from last yearB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淗onestly, NevermindB次元官网网址� project, as well as B次元官网网址淗old On, WeB次元官网网址檙e Going Home,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淥ne Dance,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淧assionfruitB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淚n My Feelings.B次元官网网址�

The final leg of the 90-minute set opened with a surprise performance by the popular early 2000s Harlem rap collective, The Diplomats, which featured Drake wearing CamB次元官网网址檙onB次元官网网址檚 signature pink hoodie and headband. He was then joined by 21 Savage to perform songs such as B次元官网网址淩ich Flex,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淪pin Bout YouB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淜nife TalkB次元官网网址� from their joint project, B次元官网网址淗er Loss,B次元官网网址� released in November.

The longtime tagline for the Apollo is B次元官网网址淲here Stars are Born and Legends are Made!B次元官网网址� So it was either strategic or serendipitous that he ended the show with B次元官网网址淟egend.B次元官网网址� While it might be too soon to drape him with the legend moniker in the manner that Apollo Walk of Fame icons such Michael Jackson, Prince, Aretha Franklin James Brown carry, he left no doubt that he is well on his way.

___

Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at: @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.

Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press

Like us on and follow us on .