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.
The local rap superstar hosted the hour-long event, which featured a “frozen” CN Tower and an over-the-top fireworks display at the waterfront ahead of the release of “ICEMAN.” Two other surprise projects, “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour,” were also released at midnight.
Friday’s 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 in 2024.
Here’s a look at all the spots in Toronto that were featured in the livestream:
‘You’re welcome Iceman’: Drake crashes Toronto City Hall, wears mayor’s chain of office
While the livestream is no longer available online, Drake is now periodically uploading music videos from the event to his YouTube channel.
In “Make Them Remember,” Drake, real name Aubrey Graham, is seen in Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s office recording music and writing notes.
At one point, he takes Chow’s chain of office, the ceremonial necklace worn by the mayor, and wears it while rapping in the makeshift recording studio.
In an Instagram post Friday morning, Chow posted a thank you note addressed to her by the 39-year-old rapper.
“You’re welcome Iceman,” writes Chow in response, accompanied by an ice cube emoji. Chow went on to call Drake a “big booster of our city” and said she was “happy to host his team at City Hall.”
In a statement from a city spokesperson, they said Drake’s team filmed the video overnight on Easter weekend.
“A member of the Mayor’s staff was on site while the production team was in the Mayor’s office and while the chain was being used. His team treated the Mayor’s office with care and respect,” they said.
The music video continues in council chamber, where Drake is seen with Toronto influencer Chromazz.
Adonis takes Shane Gillis for a ride
Drake’s eight-year-old son Adonis is seen taking comedian Shane Gillis for a spin against his will in a Toronto police cruiser in “Dust.”
In the staged joyride, Adonis and a friend are seen in the driver’s and passenger’s seat, respectively, as Gillis -- who’s dressed in a Toronto police officer’s uniform -- panics in the backseat.
The cruiser is seen performing high-octane stunts in the downtown core, before travelling along Lake Shore Boulevard and doing “doughnuts” in an empty lot.
CN Tower featured prominently
After 75 projectors were used to “freeze” CN Tower Thursday night, Toronto’s most well-known landmark became the set for Drake’s “2 Hard 4 Radio” -- but in an area of the tourist attraction most people have never seen.
Drake was spotted in the tower’s radome -- the white doughnut-looking part of the tower -- rapping to the west-coast inspired beat.
At one point, Drake performs on the roof of the tower’s upper levels seemingly without safety equipment. The video for the song has not yet been uploaded.
Yorkville restaurant, Toronto strip club
In “Burning Bridges,” viewers saw the private dining area of one of Drake’s favourite Toronto restaurants, Sotto Sotto.
Surrounded by friends, and featuring a cameo from former MuchMusic VJ Matte Babel, Drake imbibes at the upscale Italian eatery in Yorkville, which he’s shouted at several times in his music throughout his career.
In “Little Birdie,” viewers go inside one of Toronto’s oldest strip clubs, Brass Rail, for a behind-the-scenes look at the adult establishment that’s been operating for more than 50 years near Yonge and Bloor streets.
Bridle Path mansion
Fans got a look inside Drake’s multimillion-dollar Bridle Path mansion in “Janice STFU.”
Drake bought the property on Park Lane Circle in 2015 for $6.7 million and hired Ontario-based luxury home designer and builder Ferris Rafauli to create his custom residence.
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 massive underground car garage, featuring several vintage Ferraris, is also seen in the video. It’s unclear if that garage is located at the Bridle Path property.
University of Toronto Scarborough campus
The University of Toronto’s brutalist Scarborough campus sets the stage for “National Treasures.”
In the music video, Drake raps in the Andrews Building, as dozens of his October’s Very Own (OVO) crew looks on.
The building has been featured in a number of other productions due to its stark architecture, including “Resident Evil,” “The Shape of Water,” and “The Expanse.”
Drake’s former collaborator and fellow Toronto artist The Weeknd also filmed parts of his 2017 single “Secrets” at the building.
In a statement to CTV News, Andrew Arifuzzaman, chief administrative officer at University of Toronto Scarborough, said the school was happy to host Drizzy and his team.
“Everyone at the University of Toronto Scarborough always gets a thrill when our buildings are celebrated and highlighted in movies, TV shows and music videos. Last night was no different when Drake’s National Treasures, which features UTSC’s Andrews Building, was released,” he said.
Drake returns to Scarborough’s Guild Park
Fifteen years after shooting the music video for his single “Headlines” at Guild Park, Drake is back at the iconic Scarborough spot for “Whisper My Name.”
Similar to the 2011 visual, Drake is surrounded by members of his OVO posse -- albeit a much larger group this time around -- as he raps in front of the park’s columns.
Explosion at Downsview Park
A planned explosion at Downsview Park last month that caught some residents off guard is featured heavily in “Shabang.”
The company that manages the property apologized to residents who didn’t know the pyrotechnics were taking place on the night of April 16.
“We understand that the unexpected sounds were alarming and unsettling for many, and we are sorry for the disruption this may have caused,” said the management of the park, which is federally owned and operated, at the time.
Management said that while they shared advance notice about the filming through its website and social media, it admitted that they may not have reached all residents.
