Who Did Drake Diss on ‘Iceman’? A Full Breakdown of the Feuds
Valeriy Bagrintsev
Music News
May 18th, 2026
9 minute read
Who Did Drake Diss on ‘Iceman’? A Full Breakdown of the Feuds
Explore the bold disses Drake delivers on his album ‘Iceman,’ targeting big names across the rap and entertainment world.
When Drake dropped three surprise albums last week, fans were buzzing — but it was Iceman that really caught fire with its razor-sharp disses aimed at some major figures. As someone who’s followed Drake’s career ups and downs, I have to say, this album takes the drama to a whole new level. Buckle up because the rap heavyweight is not pulling punches.

The Ice-Cold Arrival: Setting the Stage for the Beef
Drake teased Iceman for months before its release, even going as far as hiding the album’s release date inside a giant block of ice in Toronto — a stunt that had fans hacking away with pickaxes and even prompted police intervention. Talk about commitment to the hype! Finally, Iceman dropped alongside two sibling albums: Habibti and Maid of Honour.
With 18 tracks packed with features from Future, Molly Santana, and 21 Savage, Iceman has already set streaming records — particularly the track ‘Make Them Cry,’ which became Spotify’s most streamed song in a single day in 2026. This triple album release marks Drake’s first studio albums since 2023’s For All The Dogs, although he did collaborate with PartyNextDoor on $ome $exy $ongs 4 U last year.
These releases come after the infamous all-encompassing beef with Kendrick Lamar and a heated lawsuit involving Universal Music Group, which makes the diss tracks all the more intriguing.
Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar: The Rap Rivalry That Won't Quit
Drake’s feud with Kendrick Lamar has become one of the most talked-about rivalries in hip-hop over the last couple of years. Iceman doesn’t shy away from throwing shade at Kendrick, with multiple tracks taking aim at Lamar’s authenticity and accomplishments.
“White kids listen to you cuz they feel some guilt and that’s how your soul gets fulfilled / Handin’ out turkeys on camera inside of your hood, then you go back to the hills / How many houses you build? / How many souls did you heal off the back of your deal?” — from ‘Janice STFU’
In ‘Make Them Pay,’ Drake slyly questions Kendrick’s streaming numbers:
“Damn, who is this guy for real? I guess a magician / 100 million streams vanished, no one got questions for n****s”
Then in ‘Make Them Remember,’ Drake uses the underdog NBA legend Muggsy Bogues (standing 5’3”, just like Kendrick) as a metaphor:
“And Muggsy Bogues dunked for once, even I’m a bit amazed / Yeah, someone give the kid a raise”
Drake’s jab hints that Kendrick’s success in their feud was about as surprising as a slam dunk from a 5’3” player.
This feud has gone beyond just music, with legal battles and personal jabs playing out in public, making each new diss track feel like the next episode in a long-running saga. It’s a narrative that’s dominated hip-hop headlines and social media chatter for good reason.
Other Targets in Drake’s Crosshairs: Legends and Contemporaries Alike
Drake’s Iceman isn’t just about Kendrick; he swings at several other heavyweight names. Let’s break down who else caught the heat.
Jay-Z: The OG Gets a Nod... and a Shot
Jay-Z, often seen as a mentor figure in hip-hop, isn’t spared. Drake raps:
“We know how you OGs rocking already, my n***a, the jig is up” (‘Janice STFU’)
“I’ll take $500k, not the dinner, I never could learn shit from none of y’all” (‘Whisper My Name’)
That second line references the infamous debate about choosing a dinner with Jay-Z versus a hefty cash sum. Jay-Z’s Roc Nation played a role in Kendrick’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, which fed into the Kendrick-Drake beef, adding another layer to that complex rivalry.
J. Cole: From Friendship to Feud
Drake also addresses his past relationship with J. Cole, who was pulled into the Kendrick Lamar feud as well. On Iceman, Drake rues the fallout:
“Me, I stood ten T’s and accepted the mission / Cuz I’d much rather death than submission / How can you press the ignition and let some memories of the past affect your decision / I love you cuz of the history, but if we being real, I could never forgive you / And you never called me back, but destiny’s written, for real / Fuck a big three anyway, there was too many chefs in the kitchen, it was a mess to begin with” (‘Make Them Pay’)
He also alludes to avoiding a fallout similar to "the married rapper" drama:
“I could’ve fell back like the married rapper, but we engaged” (‘Make Them Remember’)
J. Cole had fired back at Kendrick on tracks such as ‘7 Minute Drill,’ which he later apologized for, and reflected on the entire feud in his song ‘Port Antonio.’
A$AP Rocky: Personal Jabs and Relationship Shade
Drake doesn’t hold back when mentioning A$AP Rocky, particularly by invoking Rocky’s relationship with Rihanna — Drake’s former flame. On tracks ‘Burning Bridges’ and ‘Firm Friends,’ he raps:
“Your baby mama ain’t even post your single, damn / Where she at? Yeah, where she at? / You saw my brother, you was tryna fix it / Now you drop your album and you back dissin’, yeah”
“K-Y-S A-S-A-P, that’s some shit that you could do for me”
Rocky, who sided with Kendrick in the Drake feud and responded on his own 2026 album Don’t Be Dumb, gets some pointed commentary here.
LeBron James: Switching Teams and Sparked Memories
In ‘Make Them Remember,’ Drake calls out basketball icon LeBron James:
“I shouldn’t even be shocked to see you in that arena / Because you always made your career off of switchin’ teams up… Please stop askin’ about what’s goin’ on with 23 and me / I’m a real n***a, and he’s not, it’s in my DNA”
The arena reference points to the 2024 Kia Forum show where Kendrick led a crowd in chanting ‘Not Like Us’, with LeBron dancing along. Given Drake and LeBron’s stage collaboration back in 2016, the jab about “switching teams” stings.
Dr. Dre: A Coded Callout
There’s a cryptic jab aimed at Dr. Dre, Kendrick’s mentor, in ‘Make Them Remember’:
“If Drake took out the AK, maybe he’d be in jail / Just based off the name that it spells / What they say they just smelled? / I heard they got special places in hell / For n****s jokin’ about evil when they did it themselves, damn”
By removing the “A” and “K” from “Drake,” you get “Dre,” making the diss layered. It appears to refer to allegations against Dr. Dre from singer Michel’le about their relationship when she was a minor.
Pharrell Williams: A Shiny Reference
In ‘Make Them Pay,’ Drake drops a subtle nod to Pharrell Williams, a Virginia native:
“I got all the chains that they ever repped in Virginia / I got n****s’ prized possessions, I get possessive on n****s”
This likely alludes to Pharrell reportedly wearing millions in jewelry from a Pharrell auction in 2023.
Rick Ross: Streaming Creds and Callouts
Rick Ross also gets a shout-out on Iceman, with Drake rapping:
“Dog, I was aidin’ Ross with streams before Adin Ross had ever streamed”
Ross’s Champagne Moments came out during the Kendrick-Drake feud, and this lyric calls him out with a clever stream-related wordplay involving popular streamer Adin Ross.
DJ Khaled: Beef and Politics
Lastly, Drake takes a swipe at DJ Khaled, who stayed out of the Kendrick-Drake feud but still couldn’t escape the heat:
“And, Khaled, you know what I mean / The beef was fully live, you went halal and got on your deen / And your people are still waitin’ for a free Palestine / But apparently everything isn’t black and white and red and green” (‘Make Them Pay’)
Here, Drake employs Islamic terms “halal” and “deen” as a pun on beef, while calling out Khaled for his silence on the Gaza crisis, despite his Palestinian heritage.
Music Video Spotlight: ‘Make Them Cry’
The single ‘Make Them Cry’ became an instant fan favorite and broke streaming records. For a taste of the album’s vibe, check out the official video here:
Wrapping Up the Ice-Cold Disses
Drake’s Iceman isn’t just an album — it’s a statement packed with lyrical blows aimed at both rivals and allies. Whether it’s the epic feud with Kendrick Lamar or the subtle jabs at legends like Jay-Z and Pharrell, the album is a bold playbook of Drake’s ongoing battles. It’s fascinating to watch a star of his caliber mix nostalgia, personal history, and sharp critiques to craft a project that feels like a saga.
What do you think? Did Drake serve up enough heat on Iceman, or was this just the appetizer? Drop your thoughts below!
FAQ
- Who are the main artists Drake disses on ‘Iceman’?
Drake primarily targets Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, LeBron James, Dr. Dre, Pharrell Williams, Rick Ross, and DJ Khaled. - What’s the nature of Drake’s feud with Kendrick Lamar?
It’s a multi-year rivalry involving diss tracks, legal battles, and personal conflicts, with both rappers exchanging lyrical barbs and public jabs. - Are there any notable features on the ‘Iceman’ album?
Yes, the album features Future, Molly Santana, and 21 Savage, among others. - Did ‘Iceman’ break any records?
Yes, ‘Make Them Cry’ set the record for the most Spotify streams in a single day in 2026, contributing to multiple streaming records across the three albums Drake released. - How does Drake reference personal relationships on the album?
He alludes to past relationships and friendships, such as with Rihanna and J. Cole, blending personal history with his beefs.
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