Anil Mohabir expressed his astonishment on Friday after collaborating with Drake once again for a remarkable project to unveil the Toronto rapper’s latest music. Mohabir played a key role in projecting an icy blue wave of light onto the CN Tower, creating a stunning “real-time, 3D animation” display on the iconic Toronto landmark.
The event included a dazzling fireworks show illuminating downtown Toronto’s waterfront, setting the stage for a livestream that revealed Drake’s triple-album drop at midnight: the highly anticipated “Iceman,” along with surprise releases “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour.”
Mohabir, the founder of Studio AM renowned for digital and technical visual design projects, had a mere three weeks to bring Drake’s creative vision to life when DreamCrew, Drake’s creative production arm, approached him. The ambitious presentation required extensive coordination with various teams, including the CN Tower’s lighting teams, Transport Canada, and the City of Toronto. Mohabir led a team of approximately 300 people who worked on the project.
The visually captivating display involved 75 projectors from Canada and abroad, strategically positioned across three sites, including the roof of CBC’s Toronto Broadcast Centre. The equipment used for the projection was valued at around $15 million, with each projector averaging $200,000 and lenses ranging from $25,000 to over $100,000.
Upon triggering the projection, Mohabir described the reaction as one of awe and excitement among the team. The event was the culmination of a series of buzz-building activities, including a livestream featuring Drake riding through the city in an “Iceman”-branded truck.
Drake’s pre-album release stunts, such as leaving a massive ice-block installation in a downtown parking lot and filming an explosive display at Downsview Park, have garnered widespread attention. Mohabir emphasized Drake’s commitment to showcasing Canadian talent and elevating the city’s creative scene, a sentiment echoed by Mohabir, who hails from Regent Park.
Mohabir highlighted the collaborative spirit of Drake and his team in providing opportunities for local creatives to realize their ambitious visions at a grand scale, emphasizing the impact of their work on the city’s cultural landscape.