Drake Takes Aim at Kendrick, LeBron, and Industry on New ICEMAN Track

Drake's latest project rollout came with plenty of ammunition.

The 39-year-old artist unveiled three albums on Friday, May 15, with ICEMAN among them. One standout track, "Make Them Remember," has drawn considerable buzz following its early circulation online. The song was initially identified by a different title, "1 AM in Albany," before being confirmed as "Make Them Remember."

Throughout the record, Drake launches verbal attacks at several high-profile figures, including Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and NBA superstar LeBron James.

The Drake-LeBron dynamic has shifted notably. Once friendly collaborators, with Drake having previously championed the basketball icon in his music, their relationship appears strained. LeBron's attendance at Kendrick's The Pop Out concert in Los Angeles and his visible enthusiasm for Kendrick's diss track "Not Like Us" seemingly marked a turning point.

Drake responds with pointed commentary about LeBron's career trajectory, rapping about team changes and questioning his authenticity. The criticism also touches on LeBron's 2025 comments about the two being "in different places right now," when the athlete said they were each pursuing separate paths while maintaining respect.

Another target appears to be J. Cole, with Drake seemingly referencing the rapper's decision to step back from his brief involvement in the Kendrick feud after initially engaging in 2024. Drake also includes what many interpret as a height-related jab at Kendrick, invoking a basketball reference.

The track also contains extended verses that appear directed at Joe Budden, with graphic allegations embedded in the wordplay. Budden subsequently responded with his own bars, invoking the OVO owl logo and warning against attempts at reconciliation.

Drake doesn't limit his criticism to individual rivals. He also takes shots at the music industry itself, including chart systems, suggesting manipulation in how releases are ranked and promoted. He references his song "What Did I Miss?" finishing at No. 2 the previous year, apparently blocked from the top spot by another artist's release.