After Drake caused commotion by setting up a large collection of ice blocks in a downtown Toronto parking lot, a man claims to have discovered the much-anticipated release date of Drake’s upcoming album. A streamer known as Kishka seemingly uncovered a blue folder hidden within one of the ice blocks on Tuesday afternoon, unveiling that “Iceman” is scheduled to be released on May 15. This revelation was followed by Kishka being handed a bag of cash during a live stream. Drake later confirmed the release date on his social media accounts on the same evening.
The Toronto rapper initially teased the album’s release date by posting images of the icy installation on Instagram, providing coordinates to its location and hinting at the hidden information inside. The ice structure quickly attracted locals who gathered around to speculate on when the ice would melt, unveiling the drop date for Drake’s highly anticipated project, “Iceman.”
Videos circulating online depict individuals scaling the tower of ice, using sledgehammers to break the ice, attempting to melt it with blowtorches, lighting fires on top of the ice, and even setting up a keyboard on it. The Toronto Police Service spokesperson, Laura Brabant, confirmed that some people used pickaxes and hammers on the ice, leading to reports of individuals standing on top of the installation at the intersection of Bond Street and Dundas Street.
While there were no reported injuries, concerns about public safety led to the deployment of police officers for crowd and traffic control. Metal barricades have since been placed around the site in the heart of the city, east of the Yonge-Dundas intersection.
Drake’s promotional stunts for his album have been generating buzz, with previous events including a fiery explosion at Downsview Park and his courtside seats at a Toronto Raptors game encased in ice. The ice block installation is the latest attention-grabbing endeavor, drawing online attention and participation from influencers like Zachery Dereniowski, who engaged his social media followers by hiding car keys in the ice for a chance to win a free car.
While reactions to the album’s promotional tactics vary, with some expressing excitement and others finding it underwhelming, the towering ice blocks have successfully brought the community together. Despite differing opinions on the album’s anticipation and expectations, the ice spectacle has united Toronto residents and content creators alike.
Security measures have been implemented, including age verification checks and warnings not to touch the ice blocks, although some individuals have disregarded the guidelines. The ice installation continues to captivate audiences and spark discussions as the countdown to the album release date continues.