Drake defiantly declares he’s ‘very much alive’ following Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy sweep

A defiant Drake reassures fans he is ‘very much alive’ as he opens his Anita Max Win tour in Perth, Australia.

Drake may have been overshadowed by Kendrick Lamar's Grammy sweep, but the rapper had a triumphant start to his "Anita Max Win" tour, which kicked off last night in Perth, Australia.

Despite some initial uncertainty about ticket sales—reports just a day earlier suggested many tickets were still available—the concert was a massive success, with social media showing a packed, sold-out venue.

Drake performing What’s Next live on the opening night of the Anita Max Win Tour in Australia. #AnitaMaxWinTour pic.twitter.com/jeCk04zsTC

— DrakeDebate (@DrakeDebate) February 4, 2025

Before closing his first performance, Drake took a moment to address the crowd, reassuring them that he is "very much alive" and thankful for their support. "My name is Drake. I started in 2008, I came all the way from Toronto, Canada. The year is now 2025, and no matter what, Drizzy Drake is very much still alive and that's all thanks to you," he told the excited fans.

The rapper also acknowledged the long wait for his return to Australia, sharing that it had been eight years since his last performance down under. He promised his fans he would not take so long to come back again. Drake also took the opportunity to promote his upcoming collaboration with PARTYNEXTDOOR, ‘$OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U’, set for release on February 14.

“[My new album] comes out next Friday. I hope you enjoy it,” he said. He ended his performance with a message of care, encouraging everyone to “take care of each other,” possibly referencing the tension in the air following a year of heavy headlines.

🚨 DRAKE closing words for the first night of his Anita max win tour.

🐐Drake is Drake, he’s a goat who helped your favorite rapper.

🔥Can’t destroy what you didn’t build.

“Drake is very much alive”🤷🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/k4FOCSkz5j

— 💥TWEEZY💥 (@TweezySol) February 4, 2025

While Drake was solidifying his comeback in Australia, Kendrick Lamar was making waves of his own at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Lamar’s sweeping victory, which included five prestigious awards like Record of the Year and Song of the Year for his controversial track ‘Not Like Us,’ reignited discussions surrounding his ongoing rivalry with Drake. The song, which features scathing lyrics aimed at Drake, fueled speculation that their 2013 feud, which had simmered for years, is still very much alive.

Lamar’s latest success has led to mixed reactions, with some praising his lyrical prowess and others criticizing the personal nature of his attacks. The cover art for ‘Not Like Us,’ depicting imagery associated with registered sex offenders, added even more fuel to the fire. Meanwhile, Drake responded on his track ‘Family Matters’ with lines aimed directly at Lamar, saying, “Ay, Kendrick just opened his mouth. Someone go hand him a Grammy right now…”

As Lamar basks in his Grammy wins, it’s clear both artists are focused on their own paths forward—Drake with his new tour and Lamar with his continued success.