{"id":671419,"date":"2026-05-15T15:31:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/671419\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T15:31:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:31:19","slug":"drake-iceman-here-are-all-the-references-to-toronto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/671419\/","title":{"rendered":"Drake ‘Iceman’: Here are all the references to Toronto"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drake is back with his long-awaited ninth studio album, debuting new music Thursday night in a livestream set against the backdrop of several notable Toronto locations.<\/p>\n

The local rap superstar hosted the hour-long event, which featured a \u201cfrozen\u201d CN Tower and an over-the-top fireworks display at the waterfront ahead of the release of \u201cIceman.\u201d Two other surprise projects, \u201cHabibti\u201d and \u201cMaid of Honour,\u201d were also released at midnight.<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s release marks the first full-length album by the Grammy-winning artist since 2023 and follows his high-profile feud with Los Angeles rapper Kendrick Lamar<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at all the spots in Toronto that were featured in the livestream:<\/p>\n

\u2018You\u2019re welcome Iceman\u2019: Drake crashes Toronto City Hall, wears mayor\u2019s chain of office<\/p>\n

While the livestream is no longer available online, Drake is now periodically uploading music videos from the event to his YouTube channel.<\/p>\n

In \u201cMake Them Remember<\/a>,\u201d Drake, real name Aubrey Graham, is seen in Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow\u2019s office recording music and writing notes.<\/p>\n

At one point, he takes Chow\u2019s chain of office, the ceremonial necklace worn by the mayor, and wears it while rapping in the makeshift recording studio.<\/p>\n

In an Instagram post Friday morning<\/a>, Chow posted a thank you note addressed to her by the 39-year-old rapper.<\/p>\n

\"\"Drake at Toronto City Hall Drake raps in Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s office in “Make Them Remember.” (YouTube\/Drake) <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome Iceman,\u201d writes Chow in response, accompanied by an ice cube emoji. Chow went on to call Drake a \u201cbig booster of our city\u201d and said she was \u201chappy to host his team at City Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement from a city spokesperson, they said Drake\u2019s team filmed the video overnight on Easter weekend.<\/p>\n

\"\"Drake’s note to Olivia Chow Mayor Olviia Chow’s hand-written note from Drake is seen in this image. (Instagram: mayoroliviachow) <\/p>\n

\u201cA member of the Mayor\u2019s staff was on site while the production team was in the Mayor\u2019s office and while the chain was being used. His team treated the Mayor\u2019s office with care and respect,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

The music video continues in council chamber, where Drake is seen with Toronto influencer Chromazz.<\/p>\n

Adonis takes Shane Gillis for a joyride<\/p>\n

In \u201cDust,\u201d Drake\u2019s eight-year-old son Adonis is seen taking comedian Shane Gillis for a spin against his will in a Toronto police cruiser.<\/p>\n

In the staged joyride, Adonis and a friend are seen in the driver\u2019s and passenger\u2019s seat, respectively, as Gillis \u2013 who\u2019s dressed in a Toronto police officer\u2019s uniform \u2014 panics in the backseat.<\/p>\n

The cruiser is seen performing high-octane stunts in the downtown core, before travelling along Lake Shore Boulevard to the city\u2019s east end.<\/p>\n

\"\"Adonis Graham Adonis Graham (right) and a friend take comedian Shane Gillis for a joyride in a Toronto police cruiser. (Youtube\/Drake) CN Tower featured prominently <\/p>\n

After 75 projectors were used to \u201cfreeze\u201d CN Tower Thursday night, Toronto\u2019s most well-known landmark was used for Drake\u2019s \u201c2 Hard 4 Radio\u201d \u2014 but in an area of the tourist attraction most people have never seen.<\/p>\n

Drake was spotted in the tower\u2019s radome \u2014 the white doughnut-looking part of the tower \u2014 rapping to the west-coast inspired beat.<\/p>\n

\"\"The CN Tower The CN Tower is pictured in Toronto, Wednesday, June 26, 2019. The CN Tower opened 43 years ago today THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Colin Perkel <\/p>\n

At one point, Drake performs on the roof of the tower\u2019s upper levels seemingly without safety equipment. The video for the song has not yet been uploaded.<\/p>\n

Yorkville restaurant, Toronto strip club<\/p>\n

In \u201cBurning Bridges<\/a>,\u201d viewers saw the private dining area of one of Drake\u2019s favourite Toronto restaurants: Sotto Sotto.<\/p>\n

Surrounded by friends, and featuring a cameo from former MuchMusic VJ Matte Babel, Drake imbibes at the upscale Yorkville Italian restaurant, which he\u2019s shouted at several times in his music throughout his career.<\/p>\n

\"\"Sotto Sotto Drake and Matte Babel (left) celebrate the release of “Iceman” at Sotto Sotto in Toronto. (YouTube\/Drake) <\/p>\n

In \u201cLittle Birdie<\/a>,\u201d viewers go inside one of Toronto\u2019s oldest strip clubs, Brass Rail, for a behind-the-scenes look at the adult establishment that\u2019s been operating for more than 50 years near Yonge and Bloor streets.<\/p>\n

\"\"Brass Rail People walk past the Brass Rail strip club in Toronto on Friday, August 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Nathan Denette Bridle Path mansion<\/p>\n

Fans got a look inside Drake\u2019s multimillion-dollar Bridle Path mansion in \u201cJanice STFU<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drake bought the property on Park Lane Circle in 2015 for $6.7 million <\/a>and hired Ontario-based luxury home designer and builder Ferris Rafauli to create his custom residence.t<\/p>\n

One of the shots featured in the video appears to be a powder room which flooded during a record rainfall in the summer of 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A massive underground car garage, featuring several vintage Ferraris, is also seen in the video. It\u2019s unclear if that garage is also located at the Bridle Path property.<\/p>\n

\"\"Drake Bridle Path mansion A powder room in Drake’s Bridle Path mansion is seen here. (YouTube\/Drake) University of Toronto Scarborough campus<\/p>\n

The University of Toronto\u2019s brutalist Scarborough campus sets the stage for \u201cNational Treasures<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the music video, Drake raps in the Andrews Building, as dozens of his October\u2019s Very Own crew looks on.<\/p>\n

The building has been featured in a number of other productions due to its stark architecture, including \u201cResident Evil,\u201d \u201cThe Shape of Water,\u201d and \u201cThe Expanse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Drake at University of Toronto Drake raps at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus in “National Treasures.” (YouTube\/Drake)