Drake and Future tour: Can Summer Sixteen recreate Kanye and Jay Z's Watch The Throne magic?

Drake and Future will create a moment in history as they launch their Summer Sixteen tour tonight (20 July). The hip hop heavyweights will visit 59 cities over the course of two months making for one of the most anticipated joint treks since Jay Z and Kanye West brought Watch The Throne to the stage in 2011.

For all its success, the Summer Sixteen partnership was rather an unexpected union. Drake and Future may be at the top of the hip hop game but they are somewhat polar opposites artistically. Whereas the Canadian MC, also known as Drizzy, exerts more of a polished image coupled with radio friendly hits, Future is rough around the edges with a gruff, southern drawl and controversial personal life.

But somehow, their collaborative relationship works. Drake's unique wordplay laced over Future's infectious trap beats are like Dr Dre producing an Eminem track – it just fits. Their joint mixtape What A Time To Be Alive (WATTBA) proved their musical chemistry is a diamond in the rough. The 11-track record did the unthinkable and topped the US Billboard 200 chart in September 2015, a previously rare feat for a mixtape.

WATTBA produced the epic hit Jumpman, which spawned many quotable lyrics including: "Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman, them boys up to something," and popularising Metro Boomin's catchphrase: "If young Metro don't trust you." The culture cottoned onto the fact Drake and Future's union was a winner, prompting their decision to take their collection of hits on the road.

As the dynamic duo prepare to launch the jaunt in Austin, Texas, IBTimes UK rounds up all you can expect from the anticipated shows.

Set list

Drake alone has an extremely extensive catalogue with four albums, mixtapes and tons of collaborations under his belt and with Future virtually releases new albums every month, that is a lot of material to get through in one show. It is likely that the pair will mimic the Watch The Throne format - both individually performing a couple of their own songs before teaming up sporadically throughout the night.

The set list is yet to be revealed but Drizzy will most likely focus heavily on performing songs from his latest album Views, most of which he has never performed live. Future will then drop hits from his recent releases, including the EVOL album and mixtapes Purple Reign and Project E.T.

It would be surprising if they didn't close the show with Jumpman but with details firmly under wraps, anything is possible.

Listen to Drake and Future's What A Time To Be Alive mixtape:

Surprise guests

There are undoubtedly floods of people hoping to share the moment with Drizzy and Future on the Summer Sixteen tour, most notably members of their respective OVO and Freebandz camps. However, the rappers certainly have enough stage presence to hold it down on their own so guest appearances may be few and far between.

Meet-and-greets

Drake, 29, will not be meeting fans backstage despite reports that he cancelled meet-and-greet packages weeks after they went on sale. However, it is believed ticket-holders will still be able to take photos with Future, 32, and will walk away with goodie bags.

Drake and Future's Summer Sixteen tour kicks off on 20 July at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.