ESPYs 2014: Watch Drake Perform “Honorable Mention” And “Side Pieces” With Brian McKnight

Christina Lee | July 17, 2014 9:10 am

Drake has called himself the light-skinned Keith Sweat. He has compared his crowd’s reactions to the return of Jodeci and dubbed his ticket sales One Direction numbers. He jokes that he’s a heartthrob, after a time when he was called soft by other rappers – though while hosting the 2014 ESPYs, Drake crooned parody slow jams to make fun of himself, his crowd of pro athletes and Macklemore.

“Real music doesn’t always win Grammys, but that’s okay,” Drake sang, as a photo of the “Thrift Shop” rapper flashed on the screen. Later, he introduced another song by saying, “This next song has literally nothing to do with you at all,” before he revealed that it was called “Side Pieces” and actual R&B heartthrob Brian McKnight entered the stage to encourage such, erm, side pieces to wave their drinks.

“A lot of these guys are dying for this song to end,” Drake actually sang during “Side Pieces,” while wearing linen pants as if at a beach getaway. McKnight wore a mesh top, joining Drake in that same symbolic paradise – and his actual return to the public eye makes for bizarre viewing. Watch Drake perform “Honorable Mention” up top, then check out “Side Pieces” below.

[via XXL]

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