Drake is riding out the storm in Toronto, but not without some complications.
On July 16, the 37-year-old rapper took to Instagram to share a video of his mansion dealing with flooding from the ongoing severe weather. “This better be Espresso Martini,” he captioned the clip, showing muddy water rushing into his home.
In the video, a person dressed in black struggles to close French doors as floodwaters surge inside. The only sound is the rush of water as Drake pans the camera to his submerged feet, revealing water up to his mid-calves. He’s holding a broom, seemingly trying to guide the water out.
While Drake didn’t tag his location, it’s evident that his hometown of Toronto is bearing the brunt of severe weather, including significant flooding. According to Environment Canada, a heavy rainfall warning for Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area was lifted on July 15 after heavy downpours caused flash floods and disrupted the city’s subway system.
“Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads,” the weather agency warned. “Watch for possible washouts near rivers, creeks, and culverts.” Thankfully, the rain was expected to ease up before the weekend.
Drake’s mansion, known as “The Embassy,” made headlines in 2020 when it was featured in Architectural Digest. Describing his 50,000-square-foot custom-built estate designed by Ferris Rafauli, Drake said, “Because I was building it in my hometown, I wanted the structure to stand firm for 100 years. I wanted it to have a monumental scale and feel.”
The mansion boasts extravagant features like a 21-square-foot pyramidal skylight above an NBA regulation-size indoor basketball court, a great room with 44-foot ceilings, a bespoke concert grand piano, and a chandelier originally designed for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1963. With over 20,000 pieces of hand-cut Swarovski crystal, it’s the second-largest installation of its kind in the world.
Despite the grandeur, Drake’s favorite part of his home is his 3,200-square-foot bedroom suite, which includes an additional 1,100 square feet of covered terraces. “The bedroom is where I come to decompress from the world at the end of the night and where I open my eyes to seize the day,” he shared. “The bed lets you float, the shower lets you escape and gather your thoughts, and the closet makes you want to talk to yourself while you’re getting dressed.”
“It’s overwhelming high luxury,” Drake added. “That message is delivered through the size of the rooms and the materials and details of the floors and ceilings. I wanted to make sure people can see the work I’ve put in over the years reflected from every vantage point.”