Drake has officially dropped his highly anticipated album, Iceman, and as expected, the project serves as a platform for the Toronto superstar to address his recent rap adversaries. Released on Friday (May 15), the album arrived alongside two additional projects, Maid of Honour and Habibti, marking a massive output from the OVO Sound leader.
On Iceman, Drake does not shy away from confrontation. He takes aim at the so-called “Big 3” of rap—a title previously shared by himself, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole. On the track “Make Them Pay,” Drake dismisses the concept entirely, rapping, “F**k a big three anyway there was too many chefs in the kitchen/It was a mess to begin with.”
The lyrical offensive continues throughout the project. Targeting the Compton-bred Kendrick Lamar, Drake questions the impact of his rival’s recent diss tracks on “Dust,” boldly claiming, “What was the year you said you had slaps, cause I don’t remember it going like that, I don’t remember one word of your raps.”
Drake also shifts his focus to Rick Ross and DJ Khaled. On “Make Them Pay,” he references his history with the Miami mogul, stating, “Dog, I was aiding Ross with streams before Adin Ross had ever streamed.” He further critiques DJ Khaled for his perceived silence on global humanitarian issues, specifically the conflict in Palestine.
The veteran Jay-Z is not spared either. On both “Make Them Pay” and “Whisper My Name,” Drake suggests a lack of interest in the industry hierarchy, rapping, “I’ll take $500k, not the dinner, I never could learn sh*t from none of y’all.”
Finally, the producer Mustard faces direct criticism on “2 Hard 4 The Radio.” Drake questions the producer’s recent hit-making ability, referencing his past work with YG and challenging him to return to his former form.
Iceman represents a scorched-earth approach from Drake, signaling that he is prepared to defend his position in the rap game against all challengers.
