Drake’s ICEMAN is on thin ice

By Staff Writer Gaura Amarnani

With an unexpected three-part release, hip-hop artist Aubrey Graham, more commonly known as Drake,  released his recent projects, ICEMAN, HABIBTI, and MAID OF HONOUR on May 15.  Drake uses different genres in this project to revisit the sides of his identity as an artist: the cold rapper, the distant lover, and the hitmaker chasing the top of the industry. The project is best understood through the most popular album, ICEMAN, and is seen as a reflection of Drake’s life, personality, and artistic versatility.

ICEMAN brings a lot of emotion into this project, being the most emotional of the three albums.  On “Make Them Cry”, the lyric “my heart is in pieces” feeds into the soft production of the song. Later, he says he has to “father [his] mother,” which gives listeners a glimpse into his life and family struggles. This kind of personal connection goes a long way in making the songs feel relatable and linking listeners based on shared struggles. Drake then moves to his changing experience in the industry on “Whisper My Name.” Lyrics like “You f***in’ dude at the spot that I got for you, Jesus” reveal conflicts with old friends who exploited Drake. The song turns more personal because it addresses his father’s cancer diagnosis as well, giving the track a heavier emotional weight. ICEMAN works best when the production gives the lyrics space. The slower, less crowded songs, such as “Firm Friends” and “Make Them Remember,” allow lyrics to stand out more and for actual scenes and situations to come to life. 

The album also stands out because Drake uses it to remind listeners of his industry status. After facing public criticism during his rivalry with Kendrick Lamar, many major media outlets said he lost the music battle, but Drake’s efforts to remind listeners that he’s still at the top are apparent in the album. Drake does not simply celebrate his fame but shows the isolation derived from his industrial success. On the production side, ICEMAN has standout beats on the entirety of the album, including some incredible beat drops. Many of the instrumentals help carry the mood of the album, such as with Dust, where Drake’s aggressive raps are emphasized by strong, dark background music. 

However, the album sometimes repeats familiar topics of Drake albums without bringing detail. Tracks like “National Treasures” and “B’s On the Table” circle a very similar theme about keeping score in beef and turning personal fallout into an industry conflict. The songs are not necessarily bad, but feel weaker and underdeveloped instead of bringing more energy to the album. The album also weakens as it goes on, as most of the standout songs are at the beginning of the album, whereas the latter half remains unappealing and mellowed down. Lastly, some of the lyrics feel corny at times, and the rhymes feel forced instead of thought-inducing and methodical. 

Overall, ICEMAN is most effective when Drake brings something new to the table, whether that is new beat drops, specific struggles from his life, or even just a rant on love. Music serves as a connecting force between people from across the globe, and when Drake provides relatability through these ideas, listeners truly feel engaged and seen.

Grade: B-