Rapper Drake returned this week with a surprise triple-album release, “Iceman,” “Habibti,” and “Maid of Honour.” Still, it is “Iceman” that immediately dominated conversation online because of its weird lyrics and apparent celebrity disses.
The album appears to continue Drake’s long-running tensions with several figures across music, sports, and entertainment following his public feud with Kendrick Lamar last year, which he lost or “cooked/smoked” in internet slang.
Kendrick Lamar (the usual target)
Kendrick appears to be Drake’s main target throughout the album. One of the most discussed lines came from a lyric many fans interpreted as mocking Kendrick’s public image in Compton:
“Handin’ out turkeys on camera inside of your hood, then you go back to the hills.”
The line quickly spread online, with listeners accusing Drake of portraying Kendrick as performative or disconnected from his roots.
Drake also appeared to revisit the “Not Like Us” battle and tensions surrounding the rap industry’s reaction to the feud.
LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan
Drake also appeared to aim at NBA stars LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan, two figures previously linked closely to Toronto and Drake’s public image.
Fans especially focused on references about loyalty and switching sides after both players were seen supporting Kendrick during the height of the rap battle.
Online reactions exploded after listeners noticed Drake comparing betrayal in friendships to NBA trades and alliances.
Metro Boomin, Mustard and The Weeknd
Producers Metro Boomin and Mustard also appeared to receive indirect shots, particularly because of their involvement with Kendrick Lamar’s music during the feud period.
Drake additionally seemed to revisit his cold relationship with The Weeknd, another Toronto superstar whose relationship with Drake has deteriorated over the years.
A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross and Pusha T
The album revives tensions with several of Drake’s older rap rivals, including A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross and Pusha T.
Fans particularly linked some lyrics to Rocky because of Drake’s long-running rumored tensions involving Rihanna.
Meanwhile, Drake appeared to frame former collaborators as people who abandoned him after public controversies.
J. Cole and the “Big Three”
Even J. Cole was not spared. On one track, Drake seemingly dismissed the famous “Big Three” rap discussion involving himself, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole.
“F**k a big three anyway there was too many chefs in the kitchen.”
The line immediately sparked debate because Drake and Cole were once viewed as close collaborators before the Kendrick feud changed relationships across hip-hop.
BTS
One of the most unexpected moments on the album involved BTS. On the track “Make Them Cry,” Drake raps:
“I’m feeling like BTS ‘cause it took the whole career for me to be so discovered.”
The lyric instantly divided the internet as some BTS fans viewed the line as praise toward the group’s global rise and influence, while others questioned whether Drake was subtly mocking the K-pop group or attempting to attract attention from BTS’s massive fanbase known as ARMY.
Social media users spent hours debating the meaning behind the lyric, with many concluding the line sounded more like admiration than a diss.
Lucian Grainge and UMG
Drake also appeared to take indirect shots at the music business itself, particularly amid his ongoing tensions with Lucian Grainge and Universal Music Group.
Some fans interpreted several bars as frustration toward industry politics, streaming influence and label relationships following the Kendrick Lamar feud.
The album triggered massive online reactions within hours of release, with some fans calling “Iceman” Drake’s most confrontational project in years, while others accused him of reopening too many old feuds at once.
Critics and fans also debated whether Drake was genuinely angry or strategically trying to reclaim attention after losing momentum following the Kendrick Lamar battle.
Despite the mixed reactions, the album immediately dominated streaming platforms and social media trends worldwide.
The whole list is too long to explain but it’s fun to hear it form the album in Drake’s sound as it seems like the whole “Iceman” album was meant for Lucian Grainge/UMG, Pharrell Williams, DeMar DeRozan, Kendrick Lamar, Lebron James, Metro Boomin, Playboi Carti, The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky, Joe Budden, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Mustard, Pusha T, Dr.Dre, J Cole, Tyga and BTS to hear.
