Drake – ICEMAN (Album Review)

Drake tests his pen and people’s chins in “ICEMAN.”

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TOP 5

5. National Treasures

Do you know why I love “National Treasures?” Because it reminds me of one of Drake’s best releases from his Plot Twist era, “No Face.” Both tracks have this dark, Batman-like energy that goes crazy during pregames, shiesty moments, and Chud The Builder confrontations. It’s also one of those songs where Drake talks major s**t, but not too directly, giving it a chance to age really well (I mean, DeMar got his ass whooped, but that’s about it).

As much as people loved that Pressa was removed from the final version of the track (I’ve been seeing that on Twitter), I honestly would’ve preferred him on it. I just like his wacky energy bouncing off Drake’s smooth delivery and the dark production underneath it all. I’m definitely not crying about it, though.

What I am losing it over is the beat switch… I needed at least two Drake verses during that evil first half.

4. Plot Twist

The number one thing I appreciate about Drake is exactly what makes “Plot Twist” special. On this track, he finds countless ways to attack the moody, mafia-style beat he is handed. We’re talking unique cadences, creative wordplay, and a laid-back tone that makes it sound like he’s reclined all the way back in his office chair while rapping, looking like Stephen A. Smith’s hairline. It’s a combination that no other rapper has really used, but one that others will probably start borrowing after this. Hell, he even slips into an accent during the second verse; that’s how you know the mans is extremely pissed off.

3. Whisper My Name

“Whisper My Name” has the kind of beat that makes you want to swat flies while simultaneously feeling the drink you just slammed start kicking in. I f**k with it, but I completely understand why some people won’t.

A lot of artists try robotic flows, but nobody does them better than Drake (Not even your boy Answering Machine Man, aka NAV). Throughout the track, I love how he delivers his bars like a light-skinned ChatGPT, firing back the most disrespectful and punch-heavy responses imaginable. And when the song gets more chaotic, it starts sounding like he’s steering the beat with one hand, whipping that muthaf**ka through traffic.

Here’s the wild part, though: he randomly slides into singing between all the madness. What kind of ninja did GOD create here?

2. What Did I Miss?

This is not a lazy entry; I actually really like “What Did I Miss?” It feels like a reintroduction to Drake, and I think every artist should have at least one reintroduction track. I mean, what would Backstreet Boys’ catalog be without “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)?”

Beyond that aspect of the song, I also love the beat switch. Seriously, who else can make a hella diabolical instrumental seamlessly transition into something smooth and pleasant while still making it sound this good?

Drake blends rapping and singing flawlessly here, too, talking his s**t in ways that feel relatable at times, cool at others, and occasionally like he genuinely couldn’t care less about the people who crossed him. BTW: I love his sneak disses toward Rick Ross and Bron. It’s just slick as hell.

Everything about the track fits the setup perfectly. I truly believe this is one of Drake’s gems.

1. 2 Hard 4 The Radio

Walahi, I’ve never heard disrespect sound this fire. “2 Hard 4 The Radio” is split into two parts: a summertime section filled with soul, a bounce made for cars with hydraulics, and a loose rap style that feels extremely LA. It then morphs into an even harder Cali sound with obvious shots aimed at Kendrick Lamar and Pusha T. The way Drake slides on the second half almost made me sip holy water. As a matter of fact, this track feels like a pettier, more explosive version of “NOKIA” (I say this a lot).

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. Make Them Cry (4.5/5)

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RGM GRADE

(80%)

How can you listen to this album and not call Drake a rapper? Seriously, there are still some knuckleheads in this world saying that nonsense (someone told me that the other day at Safeway).

So, the very first thing that stands out about this project is the revenge tour Drake is on. Yes, a few shots are aimed at his obvious foes, such as Kendrick Lamar and Pusha T, but there are so many grazes that other artists get as well (we’re talking Rick Ross, LeBron James, DJ Khaled, and more). What I love is that, through all the shots, Drake emphasizes standing tall, never sounding defeated or weak. It’s almost like he approached this album down 3–1, locked in for a pivotal Game 5 road matchup. I’m not going to lie, though: Sometimes his verses read like Trump tweets.

Maybe I’m a prisoner of the moment, but my goodness, the beats on this album are outstanding. The variety is there, but in a way that feels extra intentional and well-executed. Soul is paired with club energy; moody vibes are mixed with tons of bass; mafioso s**t is mixed with commercial elements. With Drake arguably being the most versatile hip-hop musician we’ve ever seen, he adjusts beautifully to everything. When he needs to sing, he delivers melodies here and there. When he needs his s**t to cut through, he delivers body blows and big-time punches. When he needs to show emotion, he pours it all out. Hell, he even takes a trip to places like Atlanta and California. Say what you want about Drake, but you can’t tell me he isn’t the greatest chameleon of all time.

My biggest pet peeve about the album is this: there’s A LOT of rapping on it. Drake really stuffs this album with a ton of raps, almost to the point where it’s exhausting to listen to. I mean, how many punchlines can a human being process in one minute? To help, I found myself enjoying reading the raps online that people took the time to break down (At this point, I feel like I owe Kurruco some money).

Another pet peeve I have is that there are moments that feel way too out of place, like “Little Birdie” (maybe he was inspired by Fakemink?) and “B’s On The Table.” I mean, with all that hard s**t in between, what possessed him to add those two weird-ass songs?

Would we get this version of Drake if he didn’t get into a beef with Kendrick Lamar? Hell no. With his back against the wall, he delivered one of his best rap performances on an album, maybe ever. The problem is, given the character and the public perception of his image, how will people internalize it? I do think he thinks that’s important. As much as Drake dictates culture, I wonder if we’re at a time where culture is dictating how we receive what we get from Drake… Thank God I banned the internet from my house; the Drake discourse is confusing.

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