Drake
Norman Wong/Courtesy OVO Sound
Like many years of the past, Drake is looking to make the summer his once again. The 6 God returned on July 4 with the cinematic livestream premiere of his introspective “What Did I Miss” single, which essentially served as the kick-off to his highly anticipated Iceman album.
Drake addresses heartbreak and those who have betrayed him in the last year since the explosive battle that took rap by storm with Kendrick Lamar. “It’s love for my brothers and death to a traitor, let’s go,” he raps.
“What Did I Miss” hit streaming services on “July 5” and has topped the Spotify U.S. chart for two consecutive days (July 5-6).
Even nearly two decades in and after all of the accolades, it feels like another pivotal point in Drake’s career once again with his first solo LP on the horizon since clashing with Lamar in 2024. He’ll look to make another statement setting off the summer when he headlines Wireless Fest 2025 in the U.K. for all three nights this weekend.
The Friday night (July 4) livestream that accompanied “What Did I Miss” found Drake also driving through Toronto while tailing the Iceman Toronto-based ice company truck. He scolded a hater and previewed another unreleased track that’s tentatively titled “Supermax.”
When Iceman does inevitably arrive, Drake will more than likely break a tie with Jay-Z and Taylor Swift for the most Billboard 200 No. 1 albums of all time with his 15th chart-topper.
While there isn’t plenty of information out there regarding Iceman (look for more possible streams on the way), here’s everything we know so far about Drake’s ninth solo studio album.
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Possible Release Date
Drake hasn’t put a firm release date on Iceman outside of teasing that it’s “coming soon” during Friday night’s live-stream and writing “Iceman 2025″ while leaving an autograph. It doesn’t appear as if the project will arrive in time for Drizzy’s three nights of headlining at Wireless Festival 2025 this weekend.
However, Drake will be staying in the U.K. as he kicks off his $ome $pecial $hows 4 U European tour run with PARTYNEXTDOOR on July 20. There’s a break for the first week of August, which is when Drake has traditionally hosted OVO Fest over the years, so that’s another possible key date to keep an eye on.
If Iceman still hasn’t been defrosted by the end of Drake’s tour with PND, all eyes will go toward October. After all, he is October’s Very Own. After releasing $ome $exy $ongs 4 U in February, which generated long-lasting hits like “Nokia” and “Somebody Loves Me,” there probably isn’t too much urgency from Drake’s side.
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What Inspired the Iceman Title?
Drake has been dropping subtle hints about Iceman for months. He’s posted photos to IG of his icy jewelry, NBA legend George Gervin, who’s nicknamed the Iceman and Canada’s snowy winters.
Of course, Iceman is a Marvel superhero and a founding member of the X-Men. Comic book writer Mike Carey described the Iceman as “devastatingly honest. He is very up-front with his emotions and his thoughts all the time.”
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Drizzy aligned with the Toronto commercial ice packaging company of the same name, which saw him tailing an Iceman promo truck while driving throughout the 6 on Friday night, and he donned Iceman merchandise during the live-stream at the company’s warehouse.
“During the actual live-stream, it was pretty crazy… People from all over North America started calling us,” Iceman’s Jake Silva told CP24. “My father’s phone started blowing up from a lot of our customers.”
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“What Did I Miss”
“What Did I Miss” arrived as part of Friday’s livestream and then landed on streaming services hours later at midnight on Saturday (July 5). The menacing tune finds Drake examining themes of heartbreak and betrayal.
At one point, he appears to take a shot at either NBA star LeBron James or DeMar DeRozan, who both showed support for Kendrick Lamar when making appearances at K. Dot’s Pop Out show. “I saw bro went to Pop Out with them, but been d—k riding gang since ‘Headlines,’” he raps about a friend-turned-adversary.
Drizzy uses a mid-beat switch like a valve relieving pressure to change the temperature of “What Did I Miss.” He enlists a phalanx of producers behind the boards, including frequent collaborators Tay Keith and OZ along with FNZ, DJ Lewis, Patron, Elyas, GYZ, London Cyr and O Lil Angel.
“What Did I Miss” seemingly builds on the themes Drake previously employed on the Conductor Williams-produced “Fighting Irish Freestyle,” which was quickly scrubbed from YouTube in January and never appeared on DSPs.
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“Supermax”
In the midst of cruising around Toronto during the innovative live-stream, Drake gave fans an assumed preview of the album when playing an unreleased track that’s tentatively titled “Supermax.” Drizzy looks inward and vulnerably opens up about fractured relationships and keeping his focus. “It’s still heartbreak Drake, but I glued it together,” he raps.
At one point, the 6 God reveals he had a conversation with TNT sideline reporter Taylor Rooks about how heavy the crown can be. “Losin’ all these friends really got to me/ I was talking to Taylor over drinks, and it was getting deep/ ‘Not everyone can handle this pressure and, in thе city, you’re the national treasurе,’ that’s what she said to me,” he ruminates.
Rooks reposted the clip to her Instagram Story, seemingly confirming she’s the Taylor Drake is referencing on the track.
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Potential Collaborators (Or Lack Thereof)?
There’s been speculation on social media that Drake is freeing himself from his industry ties and going at Iceman as a one-man band. With plenty of Drizzy’s former collaborators turning on him during the Kendrick feud, it could make sense for Drake to attack his next album as the lone star of the show.
However, if he does decide to go the feature route — it would be the first time in his solo career that he didn’t — fans can possibly expect 21 Savage to make an appearance. Drake showed love to 21 for always having his back on “Gimme a Hug,” and the Atlanta rapper reposted Drake’s latest single.
DJ Swamp Izzo also previewed an unreleased Playboi Carti and Drake collaboration during a tour after-party. According to DJ Akademiks, he relayed that Drake told him the track was supposed to appear on For All the Dogs, but never made the cut. We’ll see if it remains shelved.
As far as the production side, frequent collaborators OZ and Tay Keith were involved with “What Did I Miss.” Conductor Williams has established a rapport with Drake and could supply some heat on the album. Of course, when it’s a Drake project, you can assume his right-hand, Noah “40” Shebib, will play a significant role. Don’t count out Boi-1da either.
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Don’t Believe the Cover Art
Drake’s been known to make questionable choices for his album covers, but the blue Drake ice sculpture that’s currently going viral on social media hasn’t been verified by the 6 God himself. So don’t fall for anything just yet when it comes to Iceman artwork.
