Song , Spirit & Soul Post: Drake's surprise album drop, dropped jaws!

  

This post featured in my other blog 'The Not So Creative Side' where I talk about all things behind the music/ entertainment industry _______________________________________________________________________

Hi all,

Just when we thought Drake had been defeated buried by Kendrick Lamar’s infamous not one, two, three but FOUR diss tracks aimed at Drake: ‘Euphoria’, ‘6:16 in LA’, ‘meet the grahams’, and ‘Not Like Us’. Kendrick also performed both nationally and internationally, where the single ‘Not Like Us’ became a culturally defining movement, remaining at No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 21 weeks. I attended the London concert last summer, and it was clear the impact of the track; the crowd was in a frenzy! This song prompted Drake’s lawsuit aimed at UMG for accusing him of inappropriate acts with minors. Many said that this feud signalled the end of Hip Hop and if Drake’s subsequent release flops, it’s over for BBL Drizzy Drake and battle rap as a whole.

Six days ago, Drake released an album trilogy titled ‘Habibti’,  ‘Iceman’, and ‘Maid of Honour’. These consist of a whopping 43 tracks in total. This project comes after his post-feud Valentine's Day release of ‘$ome $exy $ongs 4 U’ in 2025– a collaboration with Party Next Door that garnered mixed reviews.

In my opinion Drake’s album trilogy is strong. He shows that he is not backing down and, as an established Hip-Hop artist, he showcases his versatility. The production, delivery, and lyrics are quintessential to Drake’s signature mainstream ’09 release that we all know and love. It oozes appeal and gives us ‘So Far Gone’, ‘Take Care’, ‘Thank me Later’ type vibes. This is quality amid the feud that led to lawsuits that will forever be in Rap Battle History. Drake does not sound defeated but is sealing his name as a commercial Hip Hop veteran in his own right. The Toronto native hinted at a release through a series of cinematic posts on YouTube that featured releases – Drake and his team know how to use social media, viral culture and spontaneity to keep fans guessing and on their toes. Within hours of release, streams soared with ‘Iceman’ becoming the most streamed album in a day and Drake has become the most streamed artist in 2026.

As Drake says in ‘Make Them Remember’:

“What y’all thought I was done? / Y’all forgot what I done? / Y’all forgot about Drake, y’all forgot where I’m from? / Y’all forgot if I gave you a hand, under the thumb”

 Stream the albums via YouTube and Spotify here:

HABIBTI

ICEMAN

MAID OF HONOUR

Watch this enjoyable commentary on Drake's triple album release by No Life Shaq:

Salute or Surrender ... is this the end of a feud? Will this release spur more drama in Hip Hop? 

Comment your views / opinions below. 

Further reading:

• Medium: Why Not Like Us is the Greatest Diss Track Of ALL Time — Yes, Better than Ether!
  
• BBC: Drake gets personal with surprise three-albumdrop after Kendrick beef
• BBC: How Kendrick Lamar and Drake changed rap beefs forever
  
• Forbes: Inside Drake’s ‘Iceman’ Rollout: How One Album Became Three
  
• Hot New Hip Hop: Drake Sets New UK Chart Record Following "ICEMAN" Album Trilogy

Song,Spirit & Soul: REPOST: 'The Not So Creative Side' - Biggest Battle in Rap History: Did OVO get KO'd?

This blogpost made over at 'The Not So Creative Side' a blog dedicated to the business side of the music industry. 

Catch more of the blog here: https://thenotsocreativeside.blogspot.com/2024/05/biggest-battle-in-rap-history-did-ovo.html

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Hi all, 

I'm sure you have all heard of the ongoing battle between Kendrick Lamar (Kendrick Lamar Duckworth) and Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham). If you have not; lets get into it.

 It seems Drake was pushed over the edge with Kendrick's verse on 'Like That' where Kendrick takes a jab at Drake's 'top 3' stance in the industry. J Cole backed out and deleted his jab of '7 Minute Drill' to   Kendrick. Drake then releases 'Push Ups', taunting Kendrick with 'drop and give me 50' with reference to his 50/50 record deal. Drake allegedly owns his masters at OVO, whereas Kendrick owns 50%. Drake releasing Taylor Made Freestyle (Kendrick Lamar Diss) must of been the final straw for Kendrick. 

Drake digs at Kendrick who I believe was one step ahead with Euphoria. Drake been done and woke the demon up! Euphoria is a lyrical playground where Kendrick takes direct figurative shots at Drake. Kendrick really gives food for thought in Euphoria as he picks Drake apart as not being a true representation of Hip Hop. Take a close listen to the lyrics, they are filled with word-play, double entendres, and flow changes. Kendrick says Drake is a liar, manipulator, drug addict, and a child molester for a start! Kendrick takes Hip Hop on his shoulders here as an industry - and Drake being bi-racial and confused leaves Hip Hop on rocky grounds; Tupac must be turning in his grave!  Kendrick says he doesn't care about the fame, this is true we hardly see Kendrick and his private life is; private.  Drake then comes back strong with 'Family Matters' to his defence. Drake takes the n**** card back at the start and says he's ready to go unlike Cole who apologised. Drake attacks Kendrick's character saying he has been with all types of women, and Kendrick married a mixed woman himself- basically Kendrick is a hypocrite. Drake hits at all angles here, switching flow, plenty punchlines and allusions- it is a valid response to Kendrick. Drake defends himself as the Hip Hop dance king, saying being called white boy has a ring to it as they all wave white flags to his greatness. He says Kendrick is lying. Who can we believe here?

 Kendrick drops 'Meet The Grahams' , Kendrick singlehandedly as a monologue speaks to Kendricks children saying he will be their mentor. Unlike Drake, Kendrick asserts that he is the better man; both as a husband, and an active father. Whereas, Drake has abandoned children, sleeps with escorts and uses his parents for money. Kendrick plays a psychologist almost as he likens Drake to Epstein, and an impersonator who should be locked up for public safety. Kendrick's delivery really packs a punch- he says he never intended to battle he wants peace but Drake came for his family and that means war. Kendrick did not stop there with 'Not Like Us'  where he taunts Drake with the infatuation of minors, striking a chord with 'A minor'. Kendrick asserts himself as Drake being the ring leader of sex offenders, and sickos, with a team who is not as loyal as Drake believes.  Kendrick drops lots of gems proving that he has been done his research- as God's plan exposing Drake as a '69 God'. Drake bounced back casually today with his response! He asserts that Kendrick is not the father of his wife's youngest child in  'The Heart Part 6' . The title page is a comment left my Dave Free with 1,485 likes. Drake is not ready to backdown and he asks for the paperwork to prove that what Kendrick says is true. He says that Kendrick has fallen for his trap- Drake planted information of an alleged 11-year-old daughter of Drake. Drake says that Kendrick's paedophile ensued raps is because Kendrick himself was molested and if he was a child molester he would be arrested already- being the celebrity that he is! Drake's punchlines take him from A minor to B sharp, and, from D flat to D major- and taunts that Dave Free fathering his wife's child is breeding resentment!  He alleges Kendrick is a wife-beater and a hypocrite who is not who he says he is. 

This battle is intense and heated and both artists reveal genuine dislike for eachother. Both Kendrick and Drake hit home and show that they are both honourable rap battle geniuses and here to stay. I think this battle is far from over! I can keep going but I have made a non-biased review of the battle thus far. May the best man win! To see Drake and Kendrick rapping their best is refreshing and just what Hip Hop needs right now. Both Kendrick and Drake are trending all over the world with millions of plays each.

Watch these Youtube reactions and analysis for insight. Don't miss this!