Recently, in the Twitterverse, a trending topic appeared in the form of #DrakeCriesWhen. Clearly, the trend was aimed at Toronto’s first big hip-hop superstar, following in the footsteps of his alternative rock brethren Our Lady Peace (remember those guys?) in having appeal south of the Canadian border. Why was Drake crying then? Who knows? Last time I paid attention to a hip-hop star’s emotions was when Lauryn Hill had another diva moment several years ago (sorry, Ms. Hill, but you’re not cool by trying be Jeff Mangum. Even he got out of his hermitage, and look at how popular he is!).
Now, Drake has an actual reason to cry. You see, he gained a protégé in the form of the mysterious The Weeknd. He wanted to gain the prestigious Polaris Music Prize, Canada’s national music award for artistic merit, but he knew that his American-tinged hip-hop would not hold water in the Canadian critical echo chamber, whereas The Weeknd, with his added elements of chillwave and downtempo, girded the loins of the critics. So he kept him at bay, taught him some tricks, even helped him butter up the Polaris jurist by having him release the mixtape Thursday during the shortlist period. All so that he can live vicariously for those 30,000 loonies (worth more than American dollars), and show that he is an influential figure in the Toronto music scene.
But all that came for naught. For the momentum that carried The Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs to victory at the Grammys and the Junos and the BRITs continued at the Masonic Temple Hall in Toronto last night, where they won the Polaris. They bested not only The Weeknd, but 2009 winners Fucked Up, fellow band member (and TMT fave) Colin Stetson, and others such as TMT hero Destroyer, as well as newcomers Timber Timbre and BRAIDS.
So, drink up, Twitterers. Drake’s tears are yours for the taking.
• Polaris Music Prize: http://www.polarismusicprize.ca
[Photo: Kristian Noel Pedersen]