Drake returns with ICEMAN, an album full of flexes, shots and sharp reminders.
The music world has been anticipating Drake’s release of ICEMAN for the last three years. Ask Drake stans, and even those who are not stans, and they will tell you that the industry has been missing what Drake brings to the game. The expectation was that ICEMAN would be a return to form, and the music universe would be placed back into its original position with summer bangers and anthems.
When Drake finally made the announcement that ICEMAN would drop on May 15, 2026, via an ice block that held the announcement, the internet went crazy with speculation and conspiracy theories. A few days before the release, customary to what he usually does, he released two timestamp singles, “3PM in New Orleans” and “1PM in Albany,” that were chock-full of shots at LeBron James, Kendrick Lamar and some even say Jay-Z.
As a result, the anticipation reached a fever pitch, and at 12 a.m. EST, ICEMAN was released. However, listeners got a surprise. Drake also released two more albums along with it. MAID OF HONOUR and HABIBTI accompanied ICEMAN. As we stand right now, this has been one of the most legendary releases in the history of music. Streaming services crashed, he is set to achieve 100 million streams and no one has ever done it like this before.
I’ve decided to give each album its own review because, in my opinion, each album lives in its own space and provides three of the many faces of Drake.
ICEMAN is the album everybody expected, either good or bad. This is the album where he postures, talks his talk and speaks to the events of the past three years. On the first track, “Make Them Cry,” he goes into personal introspection. The very first line sets the tone: “I’m an only child no one could have made another, I had to father my mother and treat my son’s grandfather like my older brother.” Then he goes right into flow state. The track is titled “Make Them Cry,” and it sounds like he might be dropping tears at any time.
On the very next track, “Dust,” he ridicules those who are not as relevant as he is in this moment. He’s poking his chest out. “If it wasn’t for me reaching my hand you would never had climbed up” is a line he could potentially be directing to many.
The 18-track offering doesn’t have many features. However, in a direct jab at Kendrick, who said he runs to Atlanta anytime he needs, Drake enlists Future and Molly Santana on “Ran To Atlanta” and 21 Savage on “B’s On the Table.” If anyone had thoughts that Future and Drake were not friends anymore, that answers the question.
The standout track on ICEMAN is “Make Them Pay.” The title is hilarious and extremely telling. The production has a Deniece Williams interpolation/sample of “Free.” He goes in about subpoenas, disagreements and how the industry treats him. He does some of his best rapping on this song.
He raps:
“Iraq a tab in Chanel because I Dubai everything like I’m Middle Eastern
But I realize it’s gotta get a little deeper
Other than me talking about the way I’m flipping dough, like Little Caesars
I’m trying to catch one of you boys, star gazing in the field like little leaguers
Yeah. And ain’t no passes, for you crip walking, all of that diss talking, kiddo, beat it.”
Then later on in the track, he gives his take on the Big Three that consisted of him, Kendrick and J. Cole, while seemingly questioning Kendrick’s streaming numbers.
“F—k a Big Three anyway, there was too many chefs in the kitchen.
It was a mess to begin with.
And now they got a new GOAT, and gotta test the position.
Damn, who is this guy for real? I guess a magician.
100 million streams, man, there’s no one got questions for niggas.
Well, maybe I’m best as the villain.”
If people were expecting a contrite, apologetic Drake on this album, they totally miscalculated.
The whole of ICEMAN is Drake opening up his diary and unloading his clip. He does not flinch and continues to be who he is.
The album art features a hand wearing a sparkling glove, a clear nod to Michael Jackson’s iconic look. The imagery feels intentional, especially with Drake positioned to potentially break Michael’s Billboard Hot 100 record for most No. 1 hits by a male solo artist. As it stands, Drake and Michael Jackson are tied at 13, adding another layer of meaning to the visual statement.
There are many factors that can be disputed as to why this record isn’t a fair apples-to-apples comparison. However, what it does demonstrate is that Drake is who he says he is when it comes to music. ICEMAN is him serving up a reminder and flexing it for the people who love him and those who don’t.
Standout tracks
• “Make Them Cry”
• “Whisper My Name”
• “Shabang”
• “Make Them Pay”
• “National Treasure”
• “What Did I Miss”
• “2 Hard 4 The Radio”
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 out of 5 stars