Lauryn Hill was one of six distinguished artists invited by Drake to share the spotlight during the first night of his three-night headlining act at London’s Wireless Festival this weekend. Setting an R&B vibe for the evening, the OVO rapper welcomed a lineup of talented singers, including Mario, Bobby Valentino, Bryson Tiller, and Giveon, who all delivered their popular hits to an enthusiastic audience.
Among those joining Drake was his label signee PARTYNEXTDOOR, with the duo performing a variety of tracks. Their setlist included fan favorites such as “Come and See Me,” “Moth Balls,” “Somebody Love You,” and “Spider-Man Superman.” The atmosphere was electrifying, showcasing the incredible synergy between the artists and the audience.
The standout moment of the night was undoubtedly when Drake surprised fans by bringing out Lauryn Hill. Her performance of the iconic track “Ex-Factor” smoothly transitioned into Drake’s rap of his 2018 hit “Nice For What,” which samples Hill’s classic from her 1998 Grammy Award-winning album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. This unforgettable mashup served as the perfect finale for an already remarkable evening.
Videos circulating from the festival depict a vibrant and engaged crowd, with one enthusiastic fan commenting that the mashup was “One of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen live.” The fan added, “This was an absolutely insane moment to see live in the flesh.” This sentiment was echoed by social media personality BenDaDonnn, who expressed his astonishment at Hill's surprise appearance during a live stream on Adin Ross’s Kick platform.
This performance marked a stark contrast to Hill’s recent showing at the Essence Festival, where she reportedly performed in front of a nearly empty audience at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Logistical issues had pushed her set time back to approximately 3 a.m., resulting in a disappointing turnout. In response to the situation, Essence Festival took accountability for the technical difficulties, stating on Instagram, “She arrived on schedule, stepped on that stage, and delivered the kind of performance only a legend can. The delay? Not hers. We will take that.”
