Drake’s ‘ICEMAN’ finale turned Toronto into a giant watch party. Here's a look back
Toronto’s downtown core turned into an open-air watch party Thursday night as hundreds gathered outside the CN Tower for Drake’s latest “ICEMAN” rollout stunt, ending with fireworks, blue lights and another surprise release from the hometown rapper
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Drake’s “ICEMAN” rollout reached its biggest stage yet Thursday night when hundreds of fans packed the area around the CN Tower for a livestream spectacle that lit downtown Toronto blue. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
According to Drake’s team, the production involved 2,572,000 lumens of total light output and 138,240,000 pixels. The setup also used 11 media servers synced over air fibre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
Early in the stream, an “ICEMAN” truck could be seen driving through Toronto, including along the Don Valley Parkway, before making its way toward the CN Tower (CP24 photo).
The event marked the latest chapter in a rollout campaign that has blurred the line between scavenger hunt, public art installations and album promotion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
Nearly a month ago, Drake’s team placed giant ice blocks around Toronto containing clues tied to “ICEMAN,” drawing crowds of fans who chipped away at the frozen displays searching for hints about a possible release date. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Thursday night’s gathering carried a similar energy, with downtown Toronto once again becoming part of the rollout itself, including the rapper's most faithful fans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
Online, videos of the downtown crowd quickly spread across social media, with many fans comparing the atmosphere to a concert without a stage. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
For much of the night, people simply stood watching the skyline, phones raised toward the tower, waiting for the next reveal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
The CN Tower spectacle also capped off a night of surprises from Drake, who after a series of fireworks, released three projects named Iceman, Habibti, and Maid of Honour. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
In the end, fans told cp24 that they felt the spectacle ultimately brought the city together. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
