Drake delivered as host of the 2014 ESPYS. The hip-hop superstar charmed the all-star crowd, while earnings laughs with several comedic bits at Wednesday’s show at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
He opened the ceremony with a 10-minute monologue, in which he joked about LeBron James’ decision to go back to Cleveland and Johnny Manziel’s partying ways.
“So many of you that I respect. So many of you that I admire. So many people that I would trade my life to be,” he told the audience of athletes. “I love all of you…until you start losing. Then you’re dead to me.”
He showed his respect to the Charlotte Hornets’ newest player Lance Stephenson by puckering up to him on the “Lance Cam.”
He faced off with Blake Griffin in one skit, while his former rival Chris Brown made a cameo as his surgeon.
He also drew on his musical background, hitting the booth as boxing champ Manny Pacquiao to record the Frozen theme song “Let It Go.”
Dressed in all white, Drizzy performed a medley of songs including “Honorable Mention,” in which he took shots at Macklemore (“Real music doesn’t always win Grammys, but we’re OK”) and compared Iggy Azalea and Nick Young to the “poor man’s Jay and Bey.”
He saluted the “Side Pieces” on a duet with Brian McKnight, and remixed “Worst Behavior” for racist Clippers owner Donald Sterling using the hash tag #SterlingNeverLovedUs.
He professed his love for Skylar Diggins with a poem called “Can I Diggin,” but the WNBA star only wanted be friends. However, she did leave him with a kiss on the forehead.
“That was good. I’ll take what I can get,” said Drizzy as sparks flew on stage.
He dedicated the awards to his “mentor and friend” Jamie Foxx. “Thank you for giving me the confidence to get up on this stage,” said Drake.
He earned rave reviews for his performance. “@Drake did a phenomenal job on the #ESPYS2014! The show was hilarious! Congrats!” tweeted his YMCMB labelmate Christina Milian, who attended with Lil Wayne.
Watch some of the hilarious moments below.
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Opening MonologueLance CamManny Pacquiao Sings “Let It Go”
“Honorable Mention” (Macklemore Diss)
“Side Pieces” feat. Brian McKnight
Skylar Diggins
Floyd Mayweather Introduction