Toronto, CA – Jessie Reyez kicked off Game 1 of the Toronto Raptors versus Brooklyn Nets series with special versions of the United States and Canada’s national anthems. As part of the 2020 NBA Playoffs coverage, she performed both songs from the top of Toronto’s CN Tower in a scene reminiscent of Drake’s Views album cover.
Reyez pulled off the real-life version of Drake’s artwork by singing on the CN Tower’s EdgeWalk, which is 116 stories above the ground. The Universal Music Group singer, who wore a mask paying tribute to the late Breonna Taylor, became the first artist to ever perform the anthems from atop the Tower in doing so.
The NBA Playoffs began on Monday (August 17) at the “Disney Bubble” in Orlando. The Raptors defeated the Nets by a score of 134-110 as they look to defend their 2019 championship.
In March, Reyez dropped her debut studio album Before Love Came to Kill Us. The original release included collaborations with Eminem and 6LACK while the deluxe edition featured contributions by A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Rico Nasty and J.I.D.
Check out Reyez singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” above and “O Canada” below.