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<\/p>\nDrake may be a global superstar, but on his surprise Iceman trilogy, the Toronto rapper once again proves the 6ix is never far from mind.<\/p>\n
From local hotspots to friends turned foes and familiar GTA names, Drake filled triple albums Iceman, Habibti, and Maid of Honour with nods to the city that made him.<\/p>\n
For the hometown listeners and the out-of-towners who might have missed the mentions, here are six of our favourite Toronto references throughout Iceman.<\/p>\n
Drake spotlights the CN Tower in \u20182 Hard 4 The Radio\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remember all those antics Drake pulled with the CN Tower? Turns out they were building toward something.<\/p>\n
Beyond the massive iced-out spectacle, the rapper also filmed visuals for \u201c2 Hard 4 The Radio\u201d on the tower\u2019s lower white ring. In recent weeks, fans had spotted a mysterious silhouette dancing around near the top of the landmark \u2014 and now we finally know why.<\/p>\n
What makes the moment especially interesting is that \u201c2 Hard 4 The Radio\u201d leans heavily into a bouncy hyper-West Coast sound, a notable stylistic choice given Drake\u2019s ongoing tension with Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar. And even while tapping into that sound, Drake still finds a way to plant the visuals right at home, using the city\u2019s most iconic landmark as the backdrop.<\/p>\n
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Drake came for DeMar DeRozan on \u2018National Treasures\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
It seems that Drake has yet to shake former Toronto Raptors DeMar DeRozan publicly siding with rap rival and fellow Compton native Kendrick Lamar in the \u201cNot Like Us\u201d music video.<\/p>\n
The 6ix God penned a scathing verse on Iceman\u2019s \u201cNational Treasures,\u201d which positioned him as untouchable in the city. In the song, he seems to take direct shots at DeRozan:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you was a part of the team \/ We used to be plannin\u2019 our Mexico trip in the spring \/ We must\u2019ve been dealin\u2019 in spur of the moment \/ \u2018Cause why did we think you could get us a ring?,\u201d he rapped, shading DeRozan\u2019s nine-season run on the Raptors that ultimately went championship-less before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 2018.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cG Pop sent us a real one from Daygo \/ And next thing we knew, we was doin\u2019 parades,\u201d he adds, referencing Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich trading Kawhi Leonard from San Diago for DeRozan. Leonard was a force in bringing the first-ever NBA Championship title to Toronto in the following season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The music video for \u201cNational Treasures\u201d was also filmed at the University of Toronto\u2019s Scarborough Campus.<\/p>\n
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Drake is throwing it up sets on \u2018Plot Twist\u2019<\/p>\n
On the haunting \u201cPlot Twist,\u201d Drake reminds listeners that his ties to the city still run deep.<\/p>\n
\u201cI be with them guys from the 6ix that you n***** stay talkin\u2019 on Reddit about,\u201d he raps, in what many listeners interpreted as a nod to Toronto\u2019s online music and gang-affiliated discourse on subreddits like Torontology.<\/p>\n
He later spells out \u201cMOB OCTOBER GANG\u201d letter by letter while referencing twisting his fingers to signal affiliations. Drake also appears to reference Toronto collective Reps Up with the line: \u201cTwistin\u2019 that R in his face like Styles and P,\u201d seemingly nodding to longtime affiliates Preme (formerly P. Reign) and Styles.<\/p>\n
Later in the track, Drake doubles down on his comfort moving through the city without protection: \u201cI don\u2019t need security to ride \u2019round town, we can fly downtown just us two.\u201d<\/p>\n
He follows it with another Toronto-specific reference: \u201cUnless you know the G-way handshake when we go to shake hands, man can\u2019t trust you,\u201d referring to Scarborough\u2019s Galloway neighbourhood, where several of Drake\u2019s associates are from.<\/p>\n
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Drake is cool with \u2018Burning Bridges\u2019 but isn\u2019t leaving the 6ix\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBurning Bridges\u201d is the eighth track on Iceman, where Drake says that he\u2019s here to stay in the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the song\u2019s intro, he professes his love for a woman who dreams of starting a family with him in Los Angeles. But admittedly, Drake says that\u2019s not something he can commit to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey love me too much here, I cannot relocate, I just can\u2019t move away,\u201d he continues before reinforcing that he \u201ccannot relocate.\u201d<\/p>\n
The music video for \u201cBurning Bridges\u201d was also shot in Yorkville-based Italian restaurant Sotto Sotto, which is widely recognized as one of Drake\u2019s favourite spots in Toronto.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Drake calls up Maya from GRETA on \u2018High Fives\u2019<\/p>\n
One of the more unexpected Toronto moments comes from Habibti, and directly shouts out King West arcade bar GRETA Bar.<\/p>\n
On \u201cHigh Fives,\u201d Drake casually references former staff member Maya with the line: \u201cMaya, Maya, you workin\u2019 at GRETA tonight or nah? \/ Pick up, I need a whole section for the mob.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lyric quickly sparked buzz online, and GRETA staff revealed Drake had frequented the venue over the years and built close relationships with employees. The mention ultimately turned into a full-circle Toronto moment for the bar, which says it went on to host one of its busiest weekends yet following the album\u2019s release.<\/p>\n
Read More<\/p>\n
Drake shows love to the girl from Queen\u2019s University on \u2018Slap the City\u2019<\/p>\n
Though not exactly in Toronto, Drake has words for his love interest from this Ontario university on this Habibti song.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On \u201cSlap The City,\u201d he turns his energy toward a woman from Kingston-based Queen\u2019s University:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou went to Queen\u2019s University, now you a graduate, shout-out your family,\u201d Drake said. \u201cBefore I met you, I was alone. I feel like I\u2019m always alone,\u201d he sings on the chorus.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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