Drake’s ‘ICEMAN’: All 18 Tracks Ranked

“Don’t Worry” is a fine song. Vocally, he sounds great and the beat is cool, but ultimately, this song doesn’t compare to the excellence all over ICEMAN. It will probably sound great outside, but with 40 other songs for DJs to pick through across three albums, we’ll see if it even makes it there.

Drake is typically very generous and allows 21 Savage to get long verses on his tracks. However, with so many thoughts to share on this album, having the Slaughter Gang CEO just do the hook made all the sense in the world and makes for a nice change of pace between his portions. As of now, this doesn’t reach the heights of their best collaborations — such as “Rich Flex,” “Knife Talk,” or “Sneakin’” — but it may be the most potent given what Drizzy is spitting about.

“What Did I Miss?” was the lead single from the ICEMAN episodes last year and the best song of amongst the pile. With production ready-made for stadiums, Drake employs a unique Auto-Tuned flow, and deftly crafts one of his best singles in years. The true gem of this record is the beat switch and “let’s go” refrain. His energy is already palpable all throughout the song, and the “Let’s Go” chant plays as if he is amping himself up to do something crazy. Very well put together, all around.

“Little Birdie” is enjoyable for the simple fact Drake utilizes a chipmunk vocal filter, something he has rarely done — if ever. Homage to the late Virgil Abloh is always welcome, too. The production is very immersive, and this song stands out because it is a bop among an album full of copious vengeance bars. As much as ICEMAN is for the “pure” rap fans, Drake will always be committed to showing his versatility and those who enjoy his range of skills will appreciate it.

What else is there to say but: “Your baby momma ain’t even post the single?” A$AP Rocky’s disses toward the 6 God never landed and truly should have never happened. Now, he’s got a whole two-part record aimed at him. Wisdom would say stop engaging and enjoy the fact he got the girl. Now, the whole crew is laughing at you. Strong song.

Man, we were ready for a Migos verse on “Shabang” hearing their ad-libs — but even that was refreshing. It had been years since Drake and the Atlanta trio (RIP Takeoff) did any music together, so their presence was the icing on the cake for a solid record. “Shabang” is going to go platinum at all kickbacks and clubs for the next year.

“Whisper My Name” is face-scrunch worthy simply because of the beat. And then you get to the lyrics, where things get crazier. There, Drake unapologetically calls out all of his non-fans, whether they have always hated on him or just recently switched up. His flow is particularly impressive here, and the singing on the chorus is just enough. 

“Janice STFU” is one of the more venomous cuts on this album. For those familiar with the “That’s How I Feel” track from ICEMAN Episode 3 that circulated on the internet, he adds in the Auto-Tuned “for real” line amid punishing bars directed at all of his haters. The energy here is simply infectious. 

“Dust” is a car test All-Star. The AutoTune falsetto opening is a bit jarring, but the transition into the trap beat and his nimble cadence is special. “Go blow the dust of your plaques” is hilarious, and questioning when his opponents had slaps is warranted. He’s been feeding the hip-hop ecosystem for over a decade and no one can really compare to the amount of hits he has. Just the facts.

“Plot Twist” was a snippet that had been floating on the internet for almost two years and fans raved over. The final product delivered. It sits comfortably between a chill vibe and a dark trap record. Drake’s deep voiced-delivery is underrated among his loaded repertoire, and it fits best on this type of beat and mood.

When Drake links up with Conductor Williams, you know what’s going down. Though there are some lyrical displays that fall ahead of this one, “Firm Friends” is still splendid. He raps about streaming gimmicks, deep-seated envy toward him, and even nods at his 2015 fan-favorite “Energy.” One of the best lines is “I am So Far Gone that a Thank Me Later is useless now.” Self-referential Drake combined with reflection and stream-of-consciousness always hits.

The outro “Make Them Know” may be the most vulnerable the 39-year-old rapper has gotten in a long time. He reflects on how difficult July 2024 was for him, his lawsuit against Universal Music Group, how the Grammys assess his music, and so much more. His delivery is slow and plodding, with a voice that genuinely sounds exhausted. It works, though, given the content of the song. For anyone seeking substance or #content from The Boy, here it is.

Drake said “RIP Mac Dre, I’mma do it for The Bay” on “The Motto” in 2011 — and 15 years later, he runs it back. It’s a direct homage as well, as the title only slightly differs from the Bay Area legend’s“Too Hard For The F–kin’ Radio.” However, he also takes aim at the West Coast, namely DJ Mustard. The producer took a very aggressive stance against Drake in 2024, going as far as to call his fans the “Nation of Drizzlam.” California natives ought to be very conflicted between feeling a gut punch by the content all while feeling inclined to do their signature hyphy dances.

Drake has crystallized his skill at pensive, introspective storytelling over various beat switches. “Make Them Cry” feels like the highest level of that, primarily because of his perspective of the last few years. He covers his feelings on the 2024 rap beef with Kendrick Lamar, the fallout of that, thoughts on his music being “toxic,” his therapist being attractive and much more. For having to cover so many topics, he sounds incredibly locked in. And it makes a formula he’s gone to a lot throughout his career, especially on intros, still feel fresh.

“Make Them Pay” takes the “Make Them Cry” recipe and adds in a little more spice. He calls out Rick Ross, DJ Khaled and people who run to Jay-Z, and expresses his feelings on J. Cole distancing himself from the chaos of 2024. Outside of all of the discourse fodder, it is just upper-echelon raps over smooth production. When people say their favorite iteration of Drake is this type of record, songs like “Make Them Pay” give credence to their argument.

“National Treasures” played at the end of ICEMAN Episode 2 last summer and was one of the most requested tracks to make the album. Well, the fans won. Drizzy skates over the menacing beat and torches DeMar DeRozan, highlighting how Kawhi Leonard came to Toronto and won in a title in one year when the former Raptors player could never even make an NBA Finals. The production is phenomenal and his flow is incredibly fluid. A true 40-point game.

“Ran to Atlanta” was a winner right from the onset. Between the title being a petty jab at Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and Future opening the song, just brilliant decision-making. Drizzy knew people would be excited about the reunion, so he didn’t make them wait for the moment. And then, later in the song, he gives Future the vintage beat-switch performance of the “Grammys,” “N 2 Deep,” and “Life Is Good” ilk. Shoutout to Molly Santana for the moment she got on this track as well. A banger in every sense of the word.

“Make Them Remember” tops the rankings for ICEMAN, not just for the way he rips apart Dr. Dre, Joe Budden, LeBron James and Kendrick Lamar, but for his lyrical schemes. The “windsor knot,” “out at first, home,” and “bills on their face, ducking Drake” sequences are absolute madness. You can tell he even impressed himself with the last one, because he repeats it with a tone as if he was surprised he was able to do that. In the art of war, despite public perception being against him, the way he framed the battle with K. Dot as if he was doing him a favor was brilliant. It just goes to show that a motivated Drake is the best Drake.