Drake has officially dropped his highly anticipated Iceman album, and as expected, the project serves as a platform for the Toronto superstar to address his recent rap adversaries. The release, which arrived on Friday (May 15), was accompanied by two additional projects, Maid of Honour and Habibti, marking a massive output for the OVO Sound leader.
On Iceman, Drake does not hold back, firing lyrical shots at several high-profile figures in the industry. Among those targeted are Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole—the two other artists frequently associated with the so-called “Big 3” of modern rap—as well as Rick Ross, Jay-Z, and producer Mustard, who was behind the boards for Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track, “Not Like Us.”
Addressing the “Big 3” and Lyrical Competition
On the track “Make Them Pay,” Drake explicitly rejects the notion of a “Big 3” in hip-hop. He raps, “F**k a big three anyway there was too many chefs in the kitchen/It was a mess to begin with,” signaling his desire to distance himself from the narrative that grouped him with his peers.
Drake continues his offensive against Kendrick Lamar on the song “Dust,” where he questions the impact of the Compton rapper’s recent diss material. “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,” he spits, dismissing the cultural resonance of his rival’s output.
Shots at Rick Ross and DJ Khaled
The album also sees Drake taking aim at Rick Ross, referencing their past professional relationship. “Dog, I was aiding Ross with streams before Adin Ross had ever streamed,” he rhymes, highlighting his historical influence on the Miami mogul’s commercial success.
Furthermore, Drake calls out DJ Khaled for his perceived silence regarding the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. “And your people are still waiting for free Palestine/But apparently everything isn’t black and white and red and green,” Drake notes, criticizing the producer’s public stance.
Final Confrontations
The lyrical onslaught extends to Jay-Z, with jabs appearing on both “Make Them Pay” and “Whisper My Name.” On the latter, Drake asserts his independence, rapping, “I’ll take $500k, not the dinner, I never could learn sh*t from none of y’all.”
Finally, Drake targets Mustard on “2 Hard 4 The Radio.” Paying homage to the late Mac Dre, Drake suggests that the producer’s hit-making days are behind him, challenging him to return to the form that defined his earlier career.
With Iceman, Drake has clearly chosen to lean into the conflict, delivering a project that is as combative as it is ambitious.