drake australia tour melbourne

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Drake is officially touring Australia

• 06 Sep 2017

Australian Drake fans rejoice! The mega star is officially bringing his world tour down under. 

Frontier Touring announced the news on Tuesday September 6, dropping all his Australian The Boy Meets World tour dates. 

The 'Hotling Bling' singer will be performing in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne from November 7.

RELATED: Drake Makes Up with Nicki Minaj at Billboard Music Awards

Pre-sale tickets go on sale on Tuesday September 12, BUT you have to be a Frontier member and can only buy a maximum of four tickets.

All tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday September 15.

So if you want to be bust out your best Drake moves with the man himself, get prepared!

RELATED: Ed Sheeran’s Australian promoter makes an important statement

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Drake is bringing his world tour to melbourne.

After much speculation and some cheeky teasers, Drake’s stadium tour of Australia has been confirmed – with Melbourne scoring two dates on the run.

Drake has asserted himself as a trailblazer in the creative world – holding the record for highest-grossing hip-hop tour, most streamed artist on Spotify and Apple Music, most streamed album debut (384.8 million, knocking off his own previous record), most streamed song on Spotify, most simultaneous songs in the Billboard Hot 100, and more.

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Drake Just Added Two More Australian Tour Dates

If you haven’t already heard, Drake , wearer of excellent socks and also maybe the next star of The Handmaid’s Tale , is set to bring his Boy Meets World tour Down Under.

The news broke in early September that Drizzy Drake will be splitting six shows between Australia and New Zealand, in Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne (bad luck Perth and Adelaide), which—unsurprisingly—promptly sold out.

Luckily, Drake announced on his Instagram that he has added two more Australian dates to his tour, meaning you still have a chance at seeing the Champagne Papi himself perform some of his biggest hits, including “One Dance,” “Hotline Bling,” and “Fake Love.”

Planning on a Drizzy ticket mission? Here’s all you need to know.

WHERE IS DRAKE TOURING?

Drake will be touring three Australian cities, including Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

The full shows are below:

Tue 7 Nov at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW

Wed 8 Nov at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW

Fri 10 Nov at Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD

ADDED: Wed 15 Nov at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW

Sat 18 Nov at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC

ADDED: Sun 19 Nov at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC

Mon 20 Nov at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC

WHEN CAN I BUY DRAKE TICKETS?

Here are the general public on-sale times for the remaining Australian shows.

Melbourne: Thursday 21 September, 3pm.

Sydney: Thursday 21 September, 2pm.

Brisbane: Friday 15 September, 4pm. ( SOLD OUT .)

HOW MUCH ARE DRAKE TICKETS?

Ticketek has not yet released the official pricing for the concerts.

WHERE DO I BUY DRAKE TICKETS?

You can purchase tickets for the shows at Ticketek .

HOW MANY DRAKE TICKETS CAN I BUY AT ONCE?

There is a limit on how many each person can buy, which is 4 per show for general public on-sale.

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Drake Announces Australia & NZ Tour Set For November

Following his hugely successful  Boy Meets World tour of Europe, Drake has finally quit honeydicking us by today announcing tour dates for his upcoming headline tour, set for November.

It’s been more than two years since Drizzy hit Australian shores back in early 2015, where he headlined the now-extinct Future Music Festival. Since then, the Canadian rapper has dropped two albums— Views  and  More Life  (which is really part album/part playlist according to the 6 God)—as well as  What A Time To Be Alive,  a collaborative mixtape with Future, meaning there’s no shortage of new music for the Toronto-native to hit us with. His upcoming headline tour, also under the Boy Meets World banner, is set to feature six all-ages shows; two each for Melbourne and Sydney, plus one each for Brisbane and Auckland.

Drake: Boy Meets World tour dates:

Auckland Friday November 3, Spark Arena Check local guides for ticket details

Brisbane Friday November 10, Entertainment Centre Tickets on sale Friday September 15: 4pm local time

Melbourne Saturday November 18, Rod Laver Arena Monday November 20, Rod Laver Arena Tickets on sale Friday September 15: 3pm local time

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Drake is Coming to Australia in November

The Canadian rapper Aubrey Graham (aka Drake) will bring his perfectly manicured facial hair to Australia for an all-ages national tour in November.

He’ll stop off as part of his Boy Meets World Tour. The show is famous for his back-up dancers – hundreds of hovering purple orbs that may in fact be aliens. Rumour has it they coalesce around his body to create his signature Moncler puffer jackets.

Drake has never left the Billboard Hot 100 since his debut in 2009, so expect more hits than just his songs with Rihanna.

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Tickets go on sale Friday September 15.

Drake: Boy Meets World tour dates:

Sydney Tue November 7, Qudos Bank Arena Wed November 8, Qudos Bank Arena On sale Fri September 15 at 1pm local time

Brisbane Fri November 10, Entertainment Centre On sale Fri September 15 at 4pm local time

Melbourne Sat November 18, Rod Laver Arena Mon November 20, Rod Laver Arena On sale: Fri September 15 at 3pm local time

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Drake Is Coming To Australia This Year For A Headline Tour

For the first time since his huge 2015 run,  Drake  has announced he will be heading back to Australia for a headline tour this year. 

The Canadian heavyweight will bring his  Boy Meets World  tour to the country in November, with shows confirmed for Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. 

The trip follows Drake's global chart-topping 2016-released LP,  Views , as well as his 2017 playlist,  More Life , which also peaked at #1 in Australia and around the world. 

General public tickets for the tour go on sale Friday, 15 September; for a look at all of the dates and venues, head over to theGuide or scroll down.

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Drake Australian Tour Dates

Following his successful Boy Meets World tour across Europe, Grammy Award-winning and platinum-selling artist Drake is heading to Australia to play for fans down under.

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Drake Announces The Boy Meets World Australia & New Zealand Tour Dates

On Tuesday, (Sept. 5), Drake announced that he would venture to Australia and New Zealand for The Boy Meets World Tour.

By Carl Lamarre

Carl Lamarre

Despite promising to have a cushiony summer vacation after the release of  More Life , Drake has been on overload. With a summer that consisted of a slew of guest appearances and headlining his eighth annual OVO Fest, Drake is ready to venture out for another run on  The Boy Meets World Tour.

This November, OVO’s commander-in-chief will embark on a six-date tour in Australia and New Zealand. “Tickets On Sale Friday, September 15,” tweeted out the self-proclaimed 6 God on Twitter Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 5). For Drake, he’ll kick things off Nov. 3 in Auckland’s Spark Arena, while closing things out Nov. 20 in Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. 

Earlier this year, Drake encountered early difficulties when trying to kick off The Boy Meets World Tour. After dealing with production issues and several setbacks, Drake axed his shows in Amsterdam last January. Despite the problems, Drake carried on and delivered an enchanting tour with appearances by Nicki Minaj , Travis Scott and Young Thug . 

Trending on Billboard

2 chainz brings out drake during toronto show.

Take a look at Drizzy’s tour dates below. 

The Boy Meets World Tour  11/3 – Auckland @ Spark Arena 11/7 – Sydney @ Qudos Bank Arena 11/8 – Sydney @ Qudos Bank Arena 11/10 Brisbane @ Entertainment Centre 11/18 Melbourne @ Rod Laver Arena 11/20 Melbourne @ Rod Laver Arena

Tickets On Sale Friday, September 15. pic.twitter.com/NtDKjtQb0v — Drizzy (@Drake) September 5, 2017

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Drake Announces Australian Headline Tour Dates

By Tom Williams

The dormant Australian “Drake Tour” website has now sprung to life, announcing the rapper’s maiden Australian headline tour. Drake will perform all ages shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane when he’s in town for Future Music Festival 2015 in February/March. Supporting him on all dates will be fellow rapper and frequent collaborator 2 Chainz .

Drake is known for his impressive live productions, which include pyrotechnics, fire, lasers, and huge lighting and sound systems. The Canadian hip-hop artist recently toured the US on the Drake vs Lil Wayne co-headline tour, but will be headlining his own Australian tour next year, performing material from his three studio albums.

Drake released his latest album, Nothing Was The Same , in September 2013. Since then he has fueled a mini-feud with tennis player Nick Kyrgios , but has also shown his less serious side by disguising himself and asking for the public’s opinion of him and his music .

In July, Drake revealed to Billboard that he’s at work on his next album, titled Views From The 6 . One of the richest stars in hip hop , he is now worth an estimated USD$33 million.

Drake is set to headline Future Music Festival in March, as the festival travels through Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. 2 Chainz is also set to play at the festival. Other acts on the lineup include Avicii, The Prodigy, Die Antwoord and Martin Garrix.

Drake’s 2015 Australian tour begins in Sydney on Wednesday, 25th February, and wraps up in Brisbane on Thursday, 5th March. Tour and ticket details are available below.

Watch: Drake – Worst Behaviour

Drake 2015 Australian Tour

Frontier Touring pre-sale available from 2pm AEDT Thursday, 27th November to 2pm AEDT Friday, 28th November (or earlier if pre-sale allocation exhausted)

Tickets on sale to general public 10am Monday, 1st December

Wednesday, 25th February 2015 Allphones Arena, Sydney (All Ages) Tickets: Ticketek

Friday, 27th February 2015 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (All Ages) Tickets: Ticketek

Tuesday, 3rd March 2015 Perth Arena, Perth (All Ages) Tickets: Ticketek

Thursday, 5th March 2015 Entertainment Centre, Brisbane (All Ages) Tickets: Ticketek

Also appearing at Future Music Festival 2015

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Is it Australia's turn for a Drake tour? Rumours say yes

When that hotline bling, that can only mean one thing – Drake may be coming to Australia?

We’ve got good and bad news for you. The good news? It might just be God’s plan for Drake to play in Australia this year. The bad news? Well, aside from the fact that your wallet might be about to cop a beating from buying  the Weeknd tickets , Drake hasn’t quite confirmed his journey Down Under just yet. Here’s what we do know... 

At the moment, Drake is on his ‘It’s All a Blur’ tour with 21 Savage. The official stops on the four-month-long tour only include American cities, and a few shows in the Certified Lover Boy's homeland, Canada. European and British fans are impatiently waiting for an international tour, but nothing has been announced yet.

In terms of Aussie news, rumours are swirling that Drake will be visiting us in November this year... Why? Concert events website All Events recently posted a listing for a Drake concert in Perth on November 28, and another one in Auckland on November 14. X (formerly Twitter) account @6LivesMusic thinks this points to the venues being booked. 

🇦🇺🇳🇿 Rumours that Drake will be touring Australia in November/December (same time as Weeknd) with one show reportedly booked in Perth already: — 6LivesMusic (@6livesmusic_) August 29, 2023

The lowdown on All Events is that anyone can register to be an ‘event host’ and post upcoming concerts. Concerts Nation Australia were the ones who posted the Drake events, but the question is: are they legit? They have a few other concerts listed that are actually running later this year, so here's hoping that they’re on to something with Drake. 

If Drake truly is embarking on a global tour, it would be the first one since Assassination Vacation in 2017, and the first visit to Australia since 2017 when he played the Boy Meets World show. 

Ticketek has made up a Drake waitlist page – hop on it and cross your fingers for updates.

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Pink has announced new sydney show dates., the miss saigon musical is on sale now.  , check out this blockbuster egyptian exhibition that's coming to sydney..

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Drake Kicks Off Australian Tour

Grammy-Award winning and platinum-selling recording artist  Drake, landed in Sydney yesterday ahead of his show last night.  

Come see about me...🦉🌍🇦🇺🤩 Shot by @mushroomcreative A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Nov 6, 2017 at 12:55am PST

His first Sydney show is set to be followed by back-to-back shows across the country in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Landed in Sydney 🇦🇺🦉 A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Nov 5, 2017 at 4:55am PST

  Drake  has asserted himself as a trailblazer across the creative world - holding the record for highest-grossing hip-hop tour, most streamed artist on Spotify and Apple Music, most streamed album debut, most streamed song on Spotify , most simultaneous songs in the Billboard Hot 100, most number one hits on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Chart, career high songs in the Billboard Hot 100 and the list goes on.

Since debuting in the Billboard Hot 100 on 23 May, 2009, he has never not been in the Hot 100 chart.  Drake  commands massive influence in the hip-hop and contemporary music space as he continues to create and dominate on a worldwide scale.

Keen to perform tmrw 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Nov 6, 2017 at 2:36am PST

Keep an eye out for Drake while he's in the country and get your concert outfit sorted by checking out our new arrivals online or heading in store .

TOUR DATES 7 Nov - Qudos Bank Arena (Sydney) - Sold Out 8 Nov - Qudos Bank Arena (Sydney) - Sold Out 10 Nov - Entertainment Centre (Brisbane) 15 Nov - Qudos Bank Arena (Sydney) 18 Nov - Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne) -  Sold Out 19 Nov - Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne) 20 Nov - Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne) - Sold Out

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Australia concerts in 2024: here’s a list of shows and tours coming up

Artists touring Down Under in 2024 include Coldplay, Pearl Jam, Hozier, Laufey, aespa, IVE and more

Fresh out of a pandemic, Australia’s 2023 touring calendar was one of the busiest in recent memory, as artists of all stripes took centrestage everywhere from stadium shows to intimate local gigs. With a starry schedule that included the likes of Post Malone , Red Hot Chili Peppers , and Mötley Crüe , it’ll be tricky for 2024’s schedule to outdo its predecessor – and yet, thanks to the likes of Taylor Swift , Blink-182 and Pink , plus Coldplay, Pearl Jam and SZA, it’s poised to do just that.

From debut headline shows for breakout artists to bustling festival sideshow programs, there’s something for everyone to enjoy as a stellar batch of musicians make their way Down Under in 2024. Read on for NME’s roundup of all the biggest concerts and tours coming to Australia this year.

Here are the concerts and tours coming to Australia in 2024:

James Taylor: An Evening with James Taylor & His All-Star Band When: April 12 – April 28 Find tickets and more info here

If there was ever a festival made for James Taylor & His All-Star Band at this juncture of his 50-year career, it’s Day on the Green . The singer will perform at wineries in Queensland (Sirromet Wines in Mount Cotton), and New South Wales (Bimbadgen in the Hunter Valley, and Centennial Vineyards in Bowral) across April 2024. Taylor will be accompanied by Aussie pair Josh Pyke and Ella Hooper .

Taylor is also playing his own headline shows. After selling out dates in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, new shows have been added in those cities. A Live Nation pre-sale begins February 9 while general on-sale starts February 12.

Chase & Status When: April 19 – April 28 Find more info and ticket waitlists here

After a new mixtape, charting singles and landmark Boiler Room set, drum’n’bass lifers Chase & Status celebrated a huge 2023. This year, the British duo will bring the party to Australia and New Zealand on a sold-out co-headlining tour with Australia’s very own Luude. They’re notably playing RAC Arena in Perth, on top of Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.

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SZA When: April 19 – May 2 Find tickets and more info here

Fresh off winning three Grammys, SZA has announced a tour of Australia and New Zealand this April. The ‘Kill Bill’ singer will be performing two shows in New Zealand and eight across Australia, with shows confirmed for Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Beth Orton When: April 24 – April 30 Find tickets and more info

Initially slated to appear in Australia in November 2023, Beth Orton  rescheduled her Australian tour to April 2024 and added an extra show in Tasmania. The folk musician will now embark on a four-date run with performances in Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney and Brisbane from April 24 to April 30, with tickets for the original cities still valid for the rescheduled dates. Tickets for the additional date at Hobart’s Odeon Theatre are accessible here.

Nick Cave (solo) When: April 25 – May 7 Find tickets and more info

The legendary Nick Cave embarks on a solo tour of Australia (read: without the Bad Seeds) this April, playing two shows in Melbourne and five in Sydney. Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood will be on bass duties for these shows at Plenary Melbourne and State Theatre Sydney, which are all sold out.

The Dandy Warhols When: April 25 – May 1 Find tickets and more info

The Dandy Warhols will make their return to Australia in April 2024 armed with their new album ‘Rockmaker’. So far, they’ve scheduled dates in Brisbane , Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. If you missed them when they toured down under with Hoodoo Gurus in 2022, this is your chance. Find tickets here.

Elephant Gym When: April 26 – April 28 Find more info and tickets here

Elephant Gym isn’t the result of a random band name generator; “elephant” refers to the Taiwanese math rock band’s bass-led grooves, while “Gym” denotes the “agility” of their rhythm. The trio will perform their technical and idiosyncratic instrumentals at three shows on the Australian east coast for the first time this April, supporting sleepmakeswaves.

6LACK: Since I Have A Lover Tour When: April 26 – May 1 Find tickets and more info

R&B favourite 6LACK (pronounced ‘black’) will return to Australia in April to tour his new album, ‘Since I Have A Lover’. The four-date jaunt will take him to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

Niall Horan: ‘The Show’ Live On Tour When: April 26 – May 4 Find tickets and more info

Niall Horan will take ‘The Show’ on the road down under in 2024. The ex- One Direction member’s world tour comes in support of his third solo album ‘The Show’ , out June 9. For the Australian leg, he’ll perform arena shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Groovin The Moo sideshows When: April 29 – May 11 Find tickets and more info

Sadly, Groovin The Moo is no longer going ahead this year – but many of the artists who would have played the touring festival will still be forging ahead with their own Australian headline shows. Singer-songwriter Claire Rosinkranz, Wu-Tang Clan legend GZA (performing a set dubbed ‘Liquid Swords Live’) and Stephen Sanchez will all perform headline shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Toronto indie rockers The Beaches will also perform their own dates, playing shows in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in May. Find more information and tickets for all sideshows here .

Jessie Reyez When: April 30 – May 7 Find tickets and more info

Jessie Reyez will tour Australia for the first time in autumn, playing three shows along the east coast. The Canadian R&B singer will bring cuts from 2020 debut ‘Before Love Came to Kill Us’ and 2022 follow-up ‘Yessie’ to Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on April 30, before shows at the Forum in Melbourne and the Tivoli in Brisbane. Find tickets here .

Nothing But Thieves: Welcome To The DCC World Tour When: April 30 – May 7 Find tickets and more info

Nothing But Thieves cleaned up on a sold-out tour of Australia last year – and they’re back for more. The UK alt-rockers have announced the second Aussie leg of their Dead Club City World tour, which will kick off at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on April 30, continue on to Brisbane and Melbourne, and wrap up at Hindley Street Music Hall in Adelaide on May 7.

Mahalia: In Real Life When: April 30 – May 8 Find tickets and more info

UK R&B artist Mahalia has booked a five-date tour of Australia, her biggest yet and her first time back down under since 2020. Audiences in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane should get ready for smooth tunes off her 2023 album ‘IRL’ .

• READ MORE: Mahalia on her emotional, empowering new record: “I didn’t think I would finish this album”

Jonas Brothers: Five Albums. One Night. Tour When: May 1 – 9 Find tickets and more info

Joe , Nick and Kevin Jonas – the Jonas Brothers – play Australia for the first time between May 1 and May 9 as part of their massive Five Albums. One Night. Tour. The tour will see the brothers perform hits from all five of their albums across one night, including fan favourites.

Tesseract When: May 2 – May 9 Find tickets and more info

UK prog metal outfit Tesseract are set to make the highly anticipated return to Australia in May 2024, marking their first shows Down Under since 2018. Between May 2 and May 9, the band will perform in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

With 2023 album ‘War of Being’ and songs from 2021’s ‘Portals’ not played in Australia yet, Tesseract are set to bring with them a fresh bounty of new music to Australia.

The Vaccines and Everything Everything Dates: May 4-11 Find tickets and more info here

UK indie rockers The Vaccines and Everything Everything are banding together for a co-headline tour of Australia, their first time back in the country since 2019 and 2018 respectively. Embrace the indie disco in May when they head to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and finally Sydney.

Sammy Virji When: May 10 – May 18 Find more info and tickets here

UK garage has been making a steady comeback, and DJ/producer Sammy Virji is one of its frontrunners. He’s set to come back to Australia for his biggest headline tour of the country yet. Virji will kick off his tour at Metro City in Perth on May 10, before heading through Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and finishing at The Roundhouse in Sydney May 18.

Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken Tour When: May 10 – May 17 Find tickets and more info here

Melissa Etheridge is bringing her trailblazing heartland rock to Australian shores for the first time in five years in May 2024. The ‘I’m Not Broken’ tour kicks off in Perth on May 10, before heading through Adelaide, Melbourne and finishing up in Sydney on May 17. Expect to hear a blend of the songwriter’s greatest hits as heard on her latest live album ‘Beautiful Day’.

Macklemore When: May 11 – May 20 Find tickets and more info

Fresh off the release of latest album ‘Ben’, Macklemore will embark on an Australian tour next May. The hip-hop artist will perform at Hordern Pavillion in Sydney on May 11-12, before taking to Melbourne’s John Cain Arena and Brisbane’s Riverstage on May 15 and May 17, respectively. Macklemore will perform at BASSINTHEGRASS in Darwin, and then conclude his Australian run at HBF Stadium in Perth on May 20. Find tickets here.

• READ MORE: Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! – Macklemore

Sleater-Kinney When: May 17 – May 23 Find tickets and more info

In their first shows here since 2016, Sleater-Kinney are embarking on a theatre tour of Australia. Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein will play four headline shows down under in support of their latest album, ‘Little Rope’ , in what the latter has called a “homecoming” of sorts.

• READ MORE: Sleater-Kinney talk new single ‘Untidy Creature’ and grief-driven new album: “This is not a somber record”

“For all intents and purposes, Sleater-Kinney got its start in Australia,” Brownstein said in a statement. “We recorded our first album and played our first ever shows there. Because of that, Australia feels like one of the band’s spiritual homes, and returning there always feels like a homecoming, a reunion.”

Jungle When: May 17 – May 22 Find more info

Jungle have unleashed more dancey goodness with their latest album, ‘Volcano’. Get ready to boogie in May when they tour Australia. The entire run, comprising the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Festival Hall in Melbourne, and Fortitude Music Hall in Brissy, is sold out.

Botch When: May 17 – 25 Find tickets and more info

Cult-favourite mathcore/hardcore/metal band Botch from Tacoma, Washington reunited last year more than two decades after their split – and now they’re embarking on their first-ever Aussie tour. The jaunt will include two dates in Melbourne and Sydney apiece as well as shows in Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane.

Guitarist David Knudson has promised Botch will go all out: “We don’t want to half-ass it…we want to be fucking tight as we ever were, if not tighter. We don’t want to disappoint a fan that’s never seen us live. So you know, it’s all in or nothing.”

Peter Hook & The Light When: May 21 – 28 Find tickets and more info

Peter Hook , the legendary bassist and co-founder of Joy Division and New Order is set to return to Australia in May 2024, just two years after his last tour of the country in 2022. For the upcoming tour, Hook will perform the New Order and Joy Division substance compilations live, giving fans a chance to once again revel in both bands’ music.

The Snuts When: May 23 – May 26 Find tickets and more info

Scottish indie rockers The Snuts will return for their second Australian tour in as many years, following their debut run of headline shows in 2023. With third studio album ‘Millennials’ in tow, the band will kick off their 2024 tour with a show at Melbourne’s Northcote Theatre. They’ll play Sydney’s Metro Theatre on May 25, before a show at the Triffid in Brisbane the following evening. Find tickets here .

Tom Grennan When: May 29 – May 30 Find tickets and more info

Tom Grennan will duck over to Australia for a pair of headline shows this year, following a debut visit in 2022. The English singer-songwriter will play Sydney’s Metro Theatre and 170 Russell in Melbourne on May 29 and 30 respectively.

Since his last trip, Grennan has released his third studio album, ‘What Ifs & Maybes’. Find tickets here .

Sky Ferreira When: June 2 – June 4 Find more info and tickets here

It’s been 12 years since Sky Ferreira released her debut ‘Night Time, My Time’, and her mystique has only grown in the interim: Ferriera has explored the silver screen, modelling, and long teased the release of a second album ‘Masochism’ . She’ll play two rare headline shows at bespoke Melbourne and Sydney festivals RISING and Vivid LIVE this June – a decade after her last Australian performance.

Boney M featuring Maizie Williams: The Farewell Tour When: June 3 – July 6 Find tickets and more info

Legendary disco group Boney M and vocalist Maizie Williams will bid goodbye to Australia with an extensive national tour in June and July 2024. Don’t wait to get your tickets – 15 of the 20 shows are sold out. More info here.

Bar Italia When: June 4 – June 8 Find more info and tickets here

Buzzy London trio Bar Italia are proteges of Dean Blunt, and have emerged from relative anonymity in the last few years with two albums of sinister post-punk. They’ll tour Australia for the first time in June, playing at Oxford Art Factory in Sydney and Brisbane’s Black Bear Lodge before a matinee show in Melbourne as part of RISING festival.

Deerhoof: Miracle Level Tour When: June 12 – June 16 Find tickets and more info

Indie vets Deerhoof return to Australia this June for the Miracle Level Tour, in support of their 19th (!) album of the same name. They’ll play five cities in five days, kicking off in Melbourne and then heading to Sydney for Vivid before Brisbane, Adelaide and finally Perth.

LANY When: June 19 – June 28 Find tickets and more info

LANY – the pop duo of Paul Klein and Jake Goss – will return to Australia in mid-2024. After playing small, intimate shows down under in August 2023, they’ll go bigger in this national tour at venues including the Hordern Pavilion and Margaret Court Arena. See info on dates and tickets here.

Lizzy McAlpine: The Older Tour When: July 11 – July 18 Find tickets and more info

A year after breaking out with TikTok hit ‘Ceilings’, Lizzy McAlpine has released her major-label debut, the album ‘Older’. To celebrate, she’ll stage her debut headline shows in Australia with four stops across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Conan Gray When: July 11 – July 19 Find more info and tickets here

Conan Gray is the archetypal Gen Z popstar, honing his craft as a teenage YouTube vlogger before unleashing his multimodal talent as a singer. Gray will play songs from his upcoming third album ‘Found Heaven’ in some of the biggest rooms in the country this July, as well as a headline spot at Adelaide’s Spin Off Festival on July 19.

Girl In Red: Doing It Again: Asia/Oceania Tour When: July 11 – July 21 Find tickets and more info

She’s doing it again: Marie Ulven aka Girl In Red returns to Australia after selling out her headline tour here last year. The Norwegian alt-pop sensation will play Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this go round. Pre-sale begins Friday April 26, while general on-sale kicks off Monday April 29.

• READ MORE: Girl In Red on her new album: “It’s ballsy, big dick energy”

Tenacious D When: July 13 – July 22 Find tickets and more info

It’s been more than a decade since Tenacious D toured Australia, but that all changes in July. Jack Black and Kyle Gass will play their first shows in the country since 2013, performing six arena dates.

The tour will kick off with two shows at the ICC Sydney Theatre on July 13, continuing on to Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne before wrapping up at Adelaide Entertament centre on July 22. Find tickets here .

FLETCHER When: July 16 – July 28 Find tickets and more info

After postponing her original tour, the rescheduled dates for FLETCHER ’s long-awaited Australian visit have been locked in for mid-2024. Audiences across the country will revel in FLETCHER’s latest album ‘Girl Of My Dreams’ towards the end of July, with venues including Perth’s Metro City (July 16), Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane (July 18), Festival Hall in Melbourne (July 23) and Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion (July 28). Find tickets here.

The Last Dinner Party When: July 20 – July 23 Find tickets and more info

Nothing else will matter when The Last Dinner Party touch down in Australia this July. See the buzzy baroque indie pop band – and NME Cover stars – in Brisbane (a co-headline with TV Girl), Melbourne and Sydney (both supported by Tia Gostelow).

• READ MORE: The Last Dinner Party: the newly-coronated monarchs of baroque-pop

IVE: 1ST WORLD TOUR ‘SHOW WHAT I HAVE’ When: July 25 – July 28 Find tickets and more info

As part of their broader debut world tour, IVE will bring their ‘Show What I Have’ set to Australian shores in July, kicking off the two-date run at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on July 25. The K-pop group will conclude the Australian leg of their tour in support of 2023 album ‘I’ve IVE’ with a show at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on July 28. Find tickets here.

• READ MORE: IVE – ‘I’VE MINE’ review: K-pop’s queen bees grow beyond the archetype

HEALTH: Rat Based Warfare Tour Down Under When: July 31 – August 4 Find more info and tickets here

The electronic body music of HEALTH flirts with metal, noise, and synth wave, but remains uniquely their own. The band are back in Australia after their 2023 Dark Mofo appearance for a full tour in support of their seventh album ‘Rat Wars’. They’ll play cosy rooms in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane from late July this year.

Greta Van Fleet: Starcatcher World Tour When: August 21 – August 27 Find tickets and more info

Classic rock revivalists Greta Van Fleet return to Australia for the first time in five years this August, supporting their 2023 album ‘Starcatcher’. They’ll kick things off in Brisbane then head to Sydney and Melbourne.

aespa: SYNK: Parallel Line Tour When: August 31 – September 2 Find more info

K-pop girl group aespa will bring all the dra-ma-ma-ma down under for two stops of their SYNK: Parallel Line tour. The four-piece of Karina , Giselle , Winter and NingNing will perform at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on August 31 and head to Melbourne for the Rod Laver Arena two days later. A Telstra pre-sale begins May 7 while a TEG Live + Ticketek pre-sale begins two days later. General on-sale starts May 10.

• READ MORE: The 25 best K-pop songs of 2023

Iron Maiden: The Future Past Tour When: September 1 – September 13 Find tickets and more info

In what will be their first trip Down Under since 2017, Iron Maiden are poised to bring The Future Past tour to stadiums in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne next September.

The first three cities will host the metal legends between September 1 to September 10, while Melbourne and Sydney will each enjoy a two-night outing at Rod Laver Arena (September 6 and 7) and Qudos Bank Arena (September 12 and 13), respectively. Find tickets here.

J Balvin: Que Bueno Volver a Verte Tour When: September 4 – September 10 Find more info and tickets here

J Balvin’s career as the Prince of Reggaeton has dovetailed with an explosion in the popularity of Latin music worldwide. The juggernaut will bring his Que Bueno Volver a Verte Tour (It’s Good To See You Tour) to Australian arenas in September this year. Sofi Tukker will support him as he plays the biggest rooms in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Laufey: Bewitched: The Goddess Tour When: September 7 – September 14 Find tickets and more info

Get ready to fall under Laufey’s spell this September. The young jazz-pop star’s first Aussie tour last year sold out in minutes, and the Bewitched: The Goddess Tour looks set to do the same, with pre-sales already fully exhausted. She’ll play two shows in Sydney and Melbourne apiece, and also perform in Brisbane – general on-sale begins Friday April 26.

• READ MORE: Laufey on winning her first Grammy: “There is no way to prepare. It was really amazing”

SiM: Playdead World Tour When: September 12 – September 15 Find tickets and more info here

Like a kind of Japanese Gorillaz , SiM are a content universe unto their own – spanning anime , video games and records. Australian audiences can experience their inimitable reggae-metal-punk at The Zoo in Brisbane September 12, Sydney’s Crowbar on September 14 or Max Watts in Melbourne on September 15.

Thirty Seconds To Mars: Seasons World Tour When: September 12 – September 17 Find tickets and more info

To announce Thirty Seconds To Mars ’ Seasons World Tour, Jared Leto pulled a massive stunt: scaling the Empire State Building . The tour comes in support of their album ‘It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful Day’ and will hit Australian shores in mid-September. It marks the band’s first headline tour in over five years, and will see them grace the stage at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (September 12), Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (September 14) and Brisbane’s Riverstage (September 17). Find tickets here.

Ne-Yo: Champagne & Roses Tour When: September 26 – October 3 Find tickets and more info

Come closer – Ne-Yo is coming back to Australia for the Champagne & Roses Tour with special guest Lloyd. Expect smooth throwback R&B in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.

• READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: Ne-Yo

The Reytons When: September 29 – October 5 Find more info and tickets here

Yorkshire four-piece The Reytons are revivalists of another revival – 2000s British indie. But this band is independent in the truer sense of the word, self-releasing their latest album ‘Ballad of a Bystander’. They will tour their raucous, ungenteel rock from late September to early October this year, packing rooms in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.

The Kid LAROI When: October 2024 Find tickets and more info

US-based homegrown rap phenom The Kid LAROI ‘s return to Australia was supposed to take place in February, but it was postponed in December , with the Gamilaroi star calling February “logistically impossible”. Instead, he’ll fill stadiums around the country in October with tracks from his freshly released debut album ‘The First Time’. With shows locked in for Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and the Gold Coast, these all-ages shows will be his biggest to date. Stay tuned for more info on specific dates for the rescheduled tour.

• READ MORE: The Kid LAROI live in Sydney: A hometown hero returns a certified legend

Passenger When: October 17 – October 23 Find tickets and more info

Passenger’s first Australian tour in six years also serves as a celebration of his 2012 album ‘All The Little Lights’, which received an anniversary edition last year. This jaunt will feature Josh Pyke as supporting act and, notably, two shows at the Sydney Opera House (one of which is already sold out).

• READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: Passenger

Kim Wilde: The Greatest Hits Tour When: October 17 – October 26 Find more info and tickets here

If you look at the pop charts for any given week in the 1980s, chances are Kim Wilde was on it. The ‘Kids in America’ singer is still performing, on a break from her new life as a gardener, and will play a whirlwind Australian tour this October. Wilde will begin in Brisbane on October 17, before heading through Tweed Heads, Sydney, Wollongong, Perth, Adelaide and finishing in Melbourne October 26.

• READ MORE: Soundtrack of My Life: Kim Wilde

Buzzcocks When: October 24 – November 2 Find more info and tickets here

The Buzzcocks , progenitors of “love punk” and pop punk before it even existed, are still going strong almost 50 years after their formation. With Steve Diggle on vocals, replacing the late Pete Shelley, the band will return to Australia for seven shows in late October to early November. The Buzzcocks will begin on the Gold Coast on October 24, before travelling through Brisbane, Adelaide, Fremantle, Newcastle, Sydney and finishing in Melbourne on November 2.

PinkPantheress: Capable of Love Tour When: October 29 – November 5 Find tickets and more info here

PinkPantheress was once an anonymous beatmaker going viral on TikTok – she’s anything but anonymous now, as she comes to Australia for the first time promoting her debut album ‘Heaven’. Between opening for Coldplay , the 22-year-old Brit will headline shows at Melbourne’s Festival Hall (October 29) and Horden Pavilion in Sydney on November 5.

Coldplay: Music of the Spheres Tour When: October 30 – November 9 Find tickets and more info here

Coldplay will bring their ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour to Australia’s east coast at the end of a more than two-year stretch. The pop juggernauts have already sold 9 million tickets – the most for any tour in history – and are set to play eight stadium shows in Melbourne and Sydney after playing in Perth in 2023.

Expect to experience the galactic sprawl of the band’s recent rock operas, while still belting out the anthems that took them to the top.

Take That and Sophie Ellis-Bextor When: October 30 – November 10 Find tickets and more info

It’ll be murder on the dancefloor when this tour comes to town. Sophie Ellis-Bextor , enjoying a Saltburn -fueled resurgence, will accompany Take That on a six-show tour of Australia . Three dates of the tour, which marks Take That’s first live shows in the region since 2017, will take place at wineries as part of A Day on the Green, where Ricki-Lee Coulter will also appear.

• READ MORE: Sophie Ellis-Bextor on the return of ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ – and watching Saltburn with her mum

Hozier: Unreal Unearth Tour When: November 6 – November 18 Find more info and tickets here

Irish singer-songwriter Hozier will tour Down Under for the first time since 2019 this November, supporting his 2023 album ‘Unreal Unearth’ with a nation-wide arena sojourn. Hozier will kick off in Perth on November 6, before heading through Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. He will also play regional areas Torquay and the Hunter Valley as part of Summersalt festival.

• READ MORE: Hozier: “There has always been a space in my work for my own conscience”

Tate McRae: Think Later World Tour When: November 8 – November 17 Find tickets and more info

In what marks her biggest headline Australian shows to date, Tate McRae’s Think Later World Tour will head Down Under in November, encompassing five shows in Perth (November 8), Brisbane (November 10), Sydney (November 12), Adelaide (November 15) and Melbourne (November 17). The tour comes in support of McRae’s sophomore album ‘Think Later’, which features her massive single ‘Greedy’. Tickets are available here.

Pearl Jam: Dark Matter World Tour 2024 When: November 13 – November 23 Find tickets and more info

Pearl Jam have announced their new album ‘Dark Matter’, which they’ll support with a massive tour around the world . They’ll make a stop Down Under with Pixies in support, playing stadium shows in the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Sydney. The grunge giants have added bonus gigs in Melbourne on November 18 and Sydney on November 23 in response to overwhelming demand. Find tickets here.

James Blunt: The Who We Used To Be Tour When: November 21 – November 28 Find tickets and more info here

Self-deprecating superstar James Blunt is returning to Australian stages for the first time in over six years in November 2024. The ‘You’re Beautiful’ singer will begin a five-date arena tour at Brisbane’s Riverstage on November 21, before heading through Sydney’s ICC Super Theatre (November 23), Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (November 24), Adelaide’s Entertainment Centre Theatre (November 25) and Perth’s Red Hill Auditorium (November 28).

Wallows: Model Tour 2024 When: December 5 – December 14 Find more info and tickets here

US alt-rockers Wallows played some of their favourite shows ever on their previous tour of Australia – so they’ll undoubtedly be looking to top the experience when they return in December. They’ll kick things off in Perth, before heading to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and finally Brisbane.

• Depeche Mode

Aussie Depeche Mode fans are an incredibly patient bunch. The last time the British synth-pop titans toured the country was in 1994, meaning nearly three decades have passed since they last paid us a visit. But good things come to those who wait, and it seems there is a glimmer of hope for those hoping to catch the band Down Under.

• READ MORE: Depeche Mode: every single album ranked and rated

In March 2023, Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan told an Italian blog that the band were eyeing “as-yet-unannounced dates in Asia and Australia” as part of a touring run that would lead into 2024. The band have toured the world in support of their latest album, ‘Memento Mori’ , and a trip to Australia to cap off the jaunt seems more likely than ever.

Additional reporting by Ellie Robinson, Tom Disalvo and Josh Martin

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Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud explained: How rap's biggest beef is good for the culture

It's the face-off that's ignited the rap world, and put the genre back at the top of the charts after  an off year .

Drake, the most commercially successful hip hop artist of his generation, has just dropped two diss tracks aimed at Kendrick Lamar, arguably the genre's most critically revered artist (and the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize ).

The resurgence of Drake and Lamar's long-running feud started when Lamar dropped a pointed verse on his chart-topping single Like That.

Drake fired back at Lamar this weekend, with the release of Push Ups, which leaked online before its official release on Friday (April 19), and Taylor Made Freestyle.

After nearly a decade-long cold war, a nuclear play-off between two of hip hop's biggest competitors is underway. And it's dragged in everyone from pop A-listers Taylor Swift and The Weeknd, to AI constructions of 2Pac and Snoop Dogg.

But how did we get here? Why is it such a big deal? And could this be the best thing for the careers of everyone involved?

Here's all the answers to get you up to speed on a rivalry that shows no signs of shrinking in size or significance.

How did this beef begin?

Back in 2011, Canadian child-star-turned-rapper Aubrey Graham aka Drake (known for multi-platinum hits including Hotline Bling and One Dance) gave up-and-comer Lamar a platform on his blockbuster second album, Take Care , and made him the opener for a subsequent 2012 tour. They also joined forces for A$AP Rocky's 2012 fan favourite F**kin' Problems.

In 2013, following the breakthrough success of his major label debut good kid, m.A.A.d City, Lamar recorded a guest verse on Big Sean's track Control, where he called out Drake among the biggest rappers of the day.

"'I got love for you all/But I'm trying to murder you n****s," he declared, in a moment that up-ended the rap game.

At the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards , Lamar memorably claimed his Control verse had "tucked a sensitive rapper back in his pyjama clothes."

Relations between Drake and Lamar have remained icy ever since, but never severe. The pair seemed content to subliminally snipe at each other, whether at public appearances or in song.

However, things have escalated drastically in recent months, and the turning point stemmed not from Drake or Lamar, but from a gesture of unity from J. Cole.

What did J. Cole say that sparked this whole thing?

Mentored by Jay-Z and seen as a peer of Lamar's (in terms of technical skill and an artsier approach to his craft), J. Cole featured on Drake's latest album, For All the Dogs, on a track called First Person Shooter.

Released on October 31, the song debuted atop the US singles chart (Drake's 13th number one, Cole's first), and saw J. Cole contemplating who the "big three" of the current rap era might be:

Love when they argue [who] the hardest MC Is it K-Dot [Kendrick]? Is it Aubrey [Drake]? Or me? We the big three, like we started a league.

Despite being intended as a loving gesture, Lamar obviously didn't like what he heard.

How did Kendrick Lamar respond?

On March 22, producer Metro Boomin and rapper Future (both previous collaborators of Drake's) released We Don't Trust You — the first in a pair of collaborative albums.

The record's most explosive moment was on Like That, which featured a surprise verse from an uncredited Kendrick Lamar. It was an aggressively targeted response to First Person Shooter and J. Cole, who, to this point, nobody thought Lamar had an issue with.

"Motherf**k the big three, n****/It's just big me," he furiously declared among several other layered lyrical shots, including describing himself as Prince to Drake's Michael Jackson.

The verse not only set the internet ablaze with chatter but saw Like That debut at number one on the US charts. The track even managed to keep songs from Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter from reaching the top spot the following week, and has now spent three weeks in pole position.

In the wake of the Like That bombshell, everyone wondered when Drake would fire back. Aside from some testy stage banter on tour, the first real response came not from Drake but Cole.

J. Cole enters (then swiftly exits) the fight

On April 5, two weeks after Like That, J. Cole dropped a surprise mixtape, Might Delete Later (remember that title).

He replied to Kendrick's verse on a track called 7 Minute Drill.

"They say that somebody dissin'," Cole raps before critiquing Kendrick Lamar's discography and comparing it to The Simpsons' drop-off in quality over many years.

Your third s*** [album] was massive and that was your prime I was trailin' right behind and I just now hit mine.

His most controversial fighting words? "Your second s*** [album] put n****s to sleep, but they gassed it."

Many questioned Cole's dismissal of Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly – one of the most critically revered albums of the 21st century.

Less than two days later however, Cole walked back his comments.

Speaking on stage at his own Dreamville festival in North Carolina on April 7, he called 7 Minute Drill "the lamest shit I ever did in my f**king life" and explained how he felt conflicted recording a response to begin with.

"I know how I feel about my peers, these two n****s that I just been blessed to even stand beside in this game [Drake and Kendrick Lamar], let alone… chase they greatness, right? So, I felt conflicted 'cause I'm like, 'bruh, I know I don't really feel no way.' But the world wanna see blood!"

Cole bowed out of the fight and – true to his word on stage – later removed 7 Minute Drill from music streaming platforms. But when he exited the ring, Drake was finally ready to step in.

Drake hits back at Kendrick, and everyone else

On April 13, a track leaked online that some speculated was AI-generated, before industry figures confirmed what we know now is true: Push Ups is Drake's diss track back at Lamar.

Officially released on April 19, the track savages Lamar's height (we'll save you a Google: Drake stands at 6'22''/1.82 metres to Kendrick's 5'6''/1.65m).

"How the f**k you been steppin' with a size seven men's on?" Drake raps, and later refers to Lamar as a "midget" and "pipsqueak". The single artwork is also a reference to shoe size.

Additionally, Drake shuts down Lamar's "it's just big me" claim: "Pipsqueak, pipe down/You ain't in no big three/SZA got you wiped down/Travis got you wiped down/[21] Savage got you wiped down."

He also picks up Lamar's Prince versus Michael Jackson analogy, and flips it to remind us that MJ was the King of Pop: "What's a prince to a king? He a son."

Lamar isn't Drake's only target, though. "What the f**k is this, a 20-v-1?' he raps.

He spits back at Future ("I could never be nobody number one fan/Your first number one, I had to put in your hand"), Metro Boomin ("Shut your ho ass up and make some drums"), The Weeknd (belittling his management and dominance in Toronto) and former collaborator Rick Ross.

"Can't believe he jumpin' in, this n**** turnin' 50/Every song that made it on the chart, he got from Drizzy."

Ross, who's frequently teamed up with Drake over the years, did not take that lightly. He swiftly jumped in the booth and dropped his own diss track on April 15, called Champagne Moments .

Among a torrent of "white boy" insults at Drake (who is mixed-race), Ross accuses him of getting a nose job and using ghostwriters (an allegation that's followed him for many years).

Ross also kept up an unrelenting series of attacks on social media around the release of the track, tagging each post with #BBLDrizzy – referring to the cosmetic procedure and Drake's nickname.

Drake further taunts Kendrick via his mentors

On April 19, within hours of releasing Push Ups, Drake shared another diss on X, titled Taylor Made Freestyle .

Drake mocks Lamar by accusing him of not responding to Push Ups because of Taylor Swift's rollout of The Tortured Poets Department.

"Now we gotta wait a f***ing week/'cause Taylor Swift is your new top/And if you 'bout to drop, she gotta approve."

More incendiary, however, is Drake using AI voice filters to taunt Lamar via verses made to sound like two of his spiritual forebears: Tupac "2Pac" Shakur and Snoop Dogg.

In the opening verse, the artificial 2Pac goads Lamar into firing back at Drake.

"Kendrick, we need ya, the West Coast saviour/Engraving your name in some hip-hop history,"' the voice raps.

It's an evocation intended to cut deep; Lamar has been outspoken about the late 2Pac being his idol. To Pimp a Butterfly closes with Kendrick staging a conversation with the late Shakur via archival audio from the Californian rapper.

The second AI-generated verse uses the voice of Snoop Dogg, the west coast rap legend who, in 2011, gave a speech at LA's House of Blues where he formally passed the torch to a visibly emotional Lamar .

But this AI Snoop questions Lamar's street credentials: "I know you never been to jail or wore jumpsuits and shower shoes/Never shot nobody, never stabbed nobody…" He also "urges" Kendrick not to let their city down: "World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves?"

What happens next?

Well, the next logical step is for Lamar to respond with his own diss track. Purists will swear black and blue he's capable of rapping circles around Drake, and, of course, Drizzy diehards believe the opposite.

The reality is, we're dealing with two music titans coming at this with very different approaches. They're in the same sporting arena but playing completely different ball games.

Drake is a blockbuster artist driven by success, and no amount of critical or cultural blowback seems to affect his success. Lamar, on the other hand, has built his identity on seemingly prioritising artistry over popularity.

Ultimately, this beef blowing up is the best thing that could've happened to both artists. And don't be surprised if they'll want to drag this out as much as possible.

Even Drake's biggest admirers would admit he's been in a holding pattern on recent releases, dropping lengthy "photo dump" projects to continue his dominance of playlists and charts rather than focusing on fully realised artistic statements.

The strategy is clearly working: He hasn't left the public consciousness or the pointy end of the US charts for more than a decade.

By contrast, Lamar's fans will argue that good things take time. Lamar is much more picky about his output, taking longer between albums and making his guest spots more rare. He's arguably the tortoise to Drake's hare, ultimately playing the long game.

It's not a perfect analogy, but it'd be like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé going toe-to-toe: They're both superstars with unique strengths that don't necessarily compare or align.

Besides, competitively bragging and trading insults has been part of rap's DNA since the birth of hip hop. Rap beef culture is a time-honoured tradition, a space where artists, regardless of their profile or identity, can operate in the same arena and flex their skills.

Drake versus Kendrick is the match-up people have been dreaming of for years, and, whatever happens next, one thing's for sure: This is good for the culture.

It's an aggressive rallying cry to the wider rap world to up their game.

As I previously wrote when Lamar topped triple j's Hottest 100 with what was his first-ever solo US number one, HUMBLE.: "It's a 'cruel to be kind' pep talk, calling out rappers to get back to the business of honing their craft, to be their best. He's hating the players for the love of the game."

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