Drake’s HABIBTI, one of the ICEMAN trilogy projects he recently dropped, gives us the version of Drake who has become a master chameleon in music. At this stage of his career, Drake can move through different sounds, accents, moods and genres with ease. On HABIBTI, he steps into a space that feels romantic, player-driven, vulnerable and sometimes too familiar.
He opens the project with “Rusty Intro,” a record that carries a country music flavor and would actually sound decent in good ole Opryland. There is an acoustic guitar sitting underneath Drake’s voice as he serenades past loves and acknowledges his own imperfections. It is an interesting way to start the album because it immediately gives the listener a different texture. Drake sounds reflective, almost like he is sitting somewhere with a drink in his hand, thinking about every woman he hurt, every woman who hurt him and every situation that never got the closure it deserved.
The next song, “WNBA,” does not move too far away from his rapping crooner formula, but Drake demonstrates an impressive flow. The production is mesmerizing, and when the beat drops, it carries a meditative house vibe that can easily fill a dance floor. It is one of those records where Drake sounds comfortable. He is not forcing the moment. He is floating over the production while reminding listeners that he can still rap when he wants to.
HABIBTI lives in the space where Drake is demonstrating his player muscle. He is half Bing Crosby, half Keith Sweat, and he is here to take your girl with no questions asked. That sounds dramatic, but that is the energy of this project. Drake is singing, talking slick, confessing, flirting and reminding whoever is listening that he knows exactly how to make women feel seen, desired and entertained.
His favorite feature partner Sexyy Red joins him on “Hurr Nor Thurr,” where Drake is yearning for the latest apple of his eye. Sexyy Red steps in with a whispering, seductive nastiness that fits right into the mood of the song. Their chemistry works because they both understand the assignment. Drake brings the smooth talk. Sexyy Red brings the rawness. Together, they create a record that feels playful, messy and intentionally grown.
This is the lane Drake has been in for the past few years. The playboy gone bad has become part of his persona, and it has been the subject matter for much of his music. He is often the man who wants love, runs from it, complains about it, then finds a way to make it sound like everyone else is the problem.
“Classic” feels like a throwback to the 1990s and plays like traditional R&B. Drake is a pro at expressing lingering desire and reminding a woman that her man does not love her the way he does. Midway through the track, it transitions into a groove you would hear during the late-night slow jam segment on your city’s most popular R&B station. It is smooth, seductive and nostalgic.
The project does not move too far away from this theme, which is why it is both good and predictable. Drake has been working in this space for some time, even drifting into an almost villainous energy on Certified Lover Boy and For All the Dogs. The difference with HABIBTI is that he is showing a lighter and more vulnerable side. There are moments that feel like a call back to early Drake, when he was less guarded and more open about wanting love, losing love and being confused by love.
One of the best examples is “Foxworth” featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR. It is a smooth record where Drake reminisces about old tour stories, old feelings and the women who loved him in certain seasons of his life. PARTYNEXTDOOR fits perfectly here, giving the song a late-night, emotional texture that works well with Drake’s reflective tone.
Out of the three projects Drake released, HABIBTI may be the weaker one because it lacks versatility in subject matter and production. A few of these songs could have been cooked a little longer. Some moments feel too comfortable, as if Drake knows the formula works and does not feel the need to push it further.
Still, he gets the point across. HABIBTI is smooth, stylish and full of records that will land on somebody’s sexy playlist. It may not be the strongest project in the trilogy, but it shows Drake still knows how to live in the space between rap, R&B, desire and drama.
Standout tracks
“Rusty Intro”
“WNBA”
“I’m Spent”
“Classic”
“Foxworth”
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
3 and a half stars out of 5