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Drake fans have waited a long time for the megastar’s latest project — “Iceman” — to defrost.

After a yearlong rollout riddled with YouTube streams, hit singles, jabs at his alleged betrayal by the music industry and even a 25-foot-high ice sculpture, Spotify’s most streamed rapper released his newest album Friday. And it came with some twists.

Alongside his much anticipated “Iceman” drop, Drake also released two surprise albums, “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour” on Friday at midnight. The three projects brought a combined 43 new tracks, a monumental drop that’ll almost surely dominate the Billboard Hot 100 charts throughout the summer.

The three albums are Drake’s first solo projects since his 2023 album “For All the Dogs” — and since his infamous feud with Kendrick Lamar in 2024. They serve as Drake’s opportunity to reassert his place atop the rap game after a tumultuous few years. In showing his versatility across rap, R&B, pop and party music, he may have done just that.

“Iceman” provides Drake’s quintessential rap flair for 18 straight songs, a rare commitment to one style, but it works. “Habibti” brings more of the R&B tunes and smooth vocals with tracks like “Fortworth” and “Classic,” emulating Drake’s recent projects like “Some Sexy Songs 4 U.” Exclusively party and dance music, “Maid of Honour” most closely replicates Drake’s 2022 project “Honestly, Nevermind,” with some tracks, like “Cheetah Print,” also reminding me of his hit “NOKIA” from last year.

Altogether, the three projects showcase the versatility that makes Drake the artist he is. He’s one of few musicians that can excel in rapping and singing in different styles while taking creative risks. The sheer volume of new music in this drop can feel oversaturated, and at times, a bit drawn out. But that also means fans of any genre can likely resonate with one of the three albums due to their distinct styles.

The main event, “Iceman,” brings some unique bars that reflect Drake’s cryptic persona since the feud with Lamar, but the album also displays more vulnerability compared to his first project after the beef, “$$$4U.”

In the intro track, “Make Them Cry,” Drake opens up about his emotions surrounding the Lamar spat, his father’s cancer battle and the struggles he faced in a feud with his record label, Universal Music Group. It makes for a standout intro that ranks as one of my favorite tracks on the album.

“I came here to turn a new leaf and maybe finally get some sleep / But all I can think about is the mountain to climb and the conversations surrounding my music like they’re Twin Peak,” Drake raps in “Make Them Cry.” “With Dotback in 2024 was a big piece / So it’s like, this sh-t is me, but it isn’t me / Y’all keep on asking what it did to me, that’s what it did to me.”

He again showcases vulnerability about the feud in the album’s closer, “Make Them Know,” saying, “I’ll never forget that July / The worst that I felt in a while.” But Drake emphasizes his rebound, stating, “I still haven’t lost any sleep / And I definitely didn’t cry.”

That’s Drake’s mantra throughout the rest of “Iceman” — the project is a chance to get back at those who betrayed him while reaffirming that he is, indeed, here to stay.

“What Did I Miss?” — the album’s lead single — features a poke at NBA superstar LeBron James, a former Drake supporter who sided with Lamar during the beef. Another NBA star and former Drake ally, DeMar DeRozan, is called out on “National Treasures” with some clever wordplay involving his former teams.

DeRozan — a longtime player for Drake’s beloved Toronto Raptors — appeared in Lamar’s “Not Like Us” music video, signaling a switch in allegiance. Drake responded with several verses taunting the now-Sacramento Kings guard.

“I sent ‘еm a sack ‘cause I wanted you shipped to the king / When you was a part of the team / We used to be plannin’ our Mexico trip in the spring,” Drake raps, alluding to the Raptors failing in the playoffs with DeRozan. “We must’ve been dealin’ the spur of the moment / ‘Cause why did we think you could get us a ring?”

Lamar gets his own personal five-minute, 23-second diss track, “Make Them Remember.” Other songs like “Make Them Pay” throw shade at artists such as Dr. Dre, DJ Khaled and Rick Ross, who Drake feels wronged him during the feud with Lamar two years ago.

“To be the number one, you gotta lead the way,” Drake raps on “Make Them Remember,” directed toward Lamar. “And to hold somethin’ over my head forever, you’re still a couple feet away.”

“Iceman” has just three features, signaling Drake’s clear desire to speak his own mind on the project. The headliner is Future on “Ran To Atlanta,” marking a renewed alliance after Future and Lamar dissed Drake on “Like That” in 2024. Longtime ally 21 Savage appears on “B’s On The Table” but doesn’t add much to an otherwise catchy track.

“Habibti” and “Maid of Honour” include four and five features, respectively, including familiar faces like PARTYNEXTDOOR on “Fortworth,” Central Cee on “Which One” and Sexyy Red on “Hurrr Nor Thurr” and “Cheetah Print.”

PND’s melodious vocals play a pivotal role in “Fortworth,” and Central Cee is a decent complement for the house/party style Drake chases throughout “Maid of Honour.” Sexxy Red’s feature on “Hurrr Nor Thurr” feels unnecessary, but her second feature lands better, with the dance-focused sound of “Maid of Honour” fitting her skillset more naturally.

Drake works with several new artists throughout the three projects, too, like Molly Santana, Brooklyn rapper Stunna Sandy, Florida rapper Loe Shimmy, British R&B artist Qendresa and Chicago native Iconic Savvy.

While I think “Iceman” has a few tracks with No. 1 potential, like “2 Hard 4 The Radio” and “Janice STFU,” both additional albums lack a true smash hit. “Habibti” has a few great songs, notably “WNBA,” “High Fives,” “Classic” and “White Bone.” “Maid of Honour” wasn’t the type of Drake I enjoy, straying from his typical sound in favor of more pop-ish beats. Still, the album offers a couple songs that can become staples in clubs and parties across the world, like “Cheetah Print” and “Which One.” “Q&A” and “Stuck,” though, were my favorites.

There are a few gems in “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour,” and the three projects overall display Drake’s unmatched versatility in different sectors of the industry. He uses “Iceman” to voice his frustrations with the way the music industry turned on him two years ago, while his change of pace on “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour” reaffirms his catalog as one of the most diverse in the rap game.

However, the bonus projects really don’t match the hunger we see on “Iceman,” and some critics could argue they feel unnecessary, diluting a top-tier rap performance with some more mediocre tracks. Still, the two additional albums allow Drake the flexibility to make “Iceman” a pure rapping album, something he’s never really done, at least not this decade. And the end product is fantastic, serving revenge and stellar flows — ice coursing through his veins.

Published on May 16, 2026 at 3:20 pm
Contact Harris: harrispemberton@gmail.com | @HarrisPemb6