After Drake’s latest single, “What Did I Miss?” on July 5, 2025, he is finally returning with not only one, but three albums. On May 15, 2026, Drake dropped his ninth solo album, “ICEMAN,” along with two other surprise albums, “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour.” Following the mixed responses to his latest studio album “For All the Dogs”, which was released in 2023, as well as “$$$4U” in 2025, which was a collaborative album with “PartyNextDoor”. Even though Drake stayed active between releases, it still felt like there was a long wait for a solo project that really reminded people why he has stayed at the top of hip-hop and contemporary R&B for so many years.
At this point in his career, “ICEMAN” feels bigger than a typical album release. Fans have been waiting for this moment for what feels like forever, especially after all the rumors, teasers and online discussions leading up to the album. Whether people love or hate the album, Drake always finds a way to keep his listeners engaged.
The songs’ rankings, ordered from #18 to #1, are based on versatility, my personal opinion and their overall listening experience.
#18: “B’s On The Table” – 6/10
“B’s On The Table” features 21 Savage and works mainly as a smoother collaboration track. Drake and 21 Savage fit together well in this track. Drake brings the melody while 21 Savage adds the cooler, laid-back delivery and that contrast carries the song. It leans heavily on repetition, so it doesn’t develop much beyond its main loop.
#17: “National Treasures” – 6.4/10
“National Treasures” is smooth and well put together, but it isn’t a centerpiece of the album. Drake sets it up nicely with a clean intro that transitions well into the first verse, and that flow between sections is the strongest part of the song. The lyrics are solid, but the track doesn’t push into anything memorable enough to stand out compared to the heavy hitters on the album. It’s more of a steady listen than a highlight.
#16: “Plot Twist” – 6.5/10
“Plot Twist” is an album filler-type track where nothing really dominates the song, but a few moments still keep it from feeling forgettable. Drake comes in strong on verse one with a hype beat and solid delivery, but that energy doesn’t evolve much after that. The repetition makes it catchy, but it doesn’t provide listeners with much since it doesn’t develop into a bigger idea. The outro referencing a clip of “BenDaDonn” and “streamer Yonna Jay” gives it a good ending, but feels more like a transition than a major highlight.
#15: “Little Birdie” – 6.5/10
“Little Birdie” stands out for its production rather than its writing. The background beats are the strongest parts—it comes in clean and instantly sets a nice atmosphere. After that, the song leans into repetition, which makes it catchy but also limited in progression, since it doesn’t really evolve much beyond its main ideas. That’s why it can feel enjoyable in the moment but not as memorable compared to stronger tracks on the album. Other songs on the album bring more variety, impact and replay value.
#14: “Burning Bridges” – 7/10
“Burning Bridges” is built around tension and emotions; Drake mixes melodic moments with sharper, aggressive energy shifts. The intro stands out immediately because the vocalizing is smooth—it sets a more emotional tone before the beat fully kicks in. What makes the song hit harder is the chorus beat changes, which feel like a switch in mood rather than just a sound—it lifts the energy and makes the track feel bigger and more intense. Lyrically, there’s also a clear diss toward A$AP Rocky, adding that competitive feature that Drake often implements into his songs.
#13: “Make Them Cry” – 7/10
“Make Them Cry” works well as an opener because it immediately sets the tone for the album through storytelling. Drake uses more reflective lyricism here, focusing on his journey, struggles in the industry and how he’s changed over time as an artist. The song is inspirational in a grounded way as he talks about real battles and not just success. There’s also a clear contrast between old and new fans, hinting at how his audience and reputation have evolved through the years.
#12: “Dust” – 7.5/10
“Dust” stands out mostly because of its structure and energy shift. Drake opens the track with a softer, more melodic approach; the harmonizing and vocals in the intro give it an atmospheric, emotional tone right away. The first flow is smooth and controlled, keeping things chill and laid-back, but the real highlight is the beat switch when the whole song flips into a more intense, hype direction that contrasts with what makes it memorable, because it feels like two moods in one track instead of staying in a single lane, which adds to the song’s progression.
#11: “Janice STFU” – 7.7/10
“Janice STFU” is a beat-driven track rather than a lyrical showcase, where Drake leans into repetition and rhythm to build catchiness instead of complexity. The production is the main highlight—the beat is heavy and immediately gives the song its identity. The repeated sections work in its favor because they make it stick to your head fast, even if the message isn’t super deep. This track is fun, but not as strong in writing or structure compared to the more lyrical tracks on the album.
#10: “Make Them Remember” – 8.1/10
“Make Them Remember” feels more like a statement track about Drake and his journey to success. Drake is really in “prove it” mode and the focus is on saying things clearly and letting the lyrics carry the weight instead of relying on big beat changes. This track is similar to “Firm Friends,” but it differs as the lyrics are more meaningful. The writing is tighter and more purposeful; every bar is meant to land a point. Drake uses clever wordplay, showing how everything has a meaning, even the smaller lines are part of a bigger message. The diss toward LeBron James adds to that energy, but it’s not the main focus of this track.
#9: “Make Them Know” – 8.2/10
“Make Them Know” is a more direct, message-driven track where Drake focuses on clear lyricism and getting his point across instead of relying on heavy beat switches. The lyrics land well because they’re straightforward, keeping that confident tone without overcomplicating everything. The standout moment is definitely the outro, which ties into the album’s theme and direction and makes the song feel like it’s feeding into the bigger concept of the project rather than just existing on its own. That ending gives it more meaning in the album context, especially with it being the last song on the album, so it’s basically summing everything up and reinforcing the overall message.
#8: “2 Hard 4 The Radio” – 8.5/10
“2 Hard 4 The Radio” is more of a high-energy structured track where everything is built around momentum and transitions rather than heavy lyrical focus. Drake comes in on verse one with a hype delivery that immediately sets a fast, confident pace and locks you into the rhythm. What really makes the song stand out is how it moves: the transition into the bridge feels cinematic, almost like the track “opens up” and shifts scenes instead of just continuing normally. Then, when it flips into the chorus, the beat gets noticeably more upbeat and full, giving it that explosive, radio-ready energy.
#7: “Firm Friends” – 8.9/10
“Firm Friends” feels nostalgic and gives a more “prime Drake” style writing, similar to the vibe of “Make Them Pay,” where Drake focuses on writing and controlled delivery instead of vibe-heavy music. The lyricism stands out because it is more intentional, with that confident, slightly competitive tone. The track also has that slight tension in the lyrics where he’s addressing relationships and industry dynamics, including a diss toward A$AP Rocky, that adds to the competitive undertone without making it aggressive.
#6: “What Did I Miss?” – 9/10
“What Did I Miss?” has a slightly different purpose on the album compared to the newer tracks, because it originally existed as a single before being added to the album. That alone changes how it feels in context; it feels like a hit that got “carried over.” That gives it a familiar, replayable energy right away. Drake leans into catchy, simple lyrics instead of deep storytelling, which is why it sticks so easily. The background is smoother and steadier, making it easy to loop. The best part is the transition into the bridge—it shifts the energy perfectly and makes the song feel like it levels up without breaking the flow. Overall, it’s more about replay value and structure than emotion or lyric complexity.
#5: “Make Them Pay” – 9/10
“Make Them Pay” is a more lyric-focused track because it blends sharp wordplay, humor and subtle subliminal disses with a confident delivery by Drake. What really carries this song is the writing; Drake leans into clever punchlines and double meanings, showing his usual mix of wordplay. The song also presents a noticeable diss, including shots aimed at DJ Khaled, which adds to the competitive atmosphere. Overall, this track feels less like a moody piece but more like a display of lyrical skill, which is why it comes across as one of the strongest performances on the album.
#4: “Don’t Worry” – 9/10
“Don’t Worry” feels like a pure momentum track. The intro beat is doing most of the heavy lifting—it’s loud, confident and immediately sets a “locked in” energy rather than a moody one. Instead of being reflective, it’s more forward-moving and unbothered. When Drake comes in, his delivery is more relaxed but precise, like he’s coasting on confidence instead of trying to prove anything. The appeal is mostly the beat switch energy and how clean his vocals sit on it.
#3: “Whisper My Name” – 9/10
“Whisper My Name” is one of those tracks where the production and delivery carry the whole experience. The intro beat immediately grabs attention because it sounds dark and cinematic, which sets the stage for the whole song. Drake sounds confident and controlled throughout the song, but the standout part is definitely the vocal on “you gotta whisper my name.” That line gives the song a colder, almost intimidating energy, like he’s talking about status and respect without having to yell it. The track’s atmosphere feels intense without needing super complicated lyrics, which is why it’s such a replayable song.
#2: “Ran To Atlanta” – 9.5/10
“Ran To Atlanta” features Future and Molly Santana and brings a much heavier rap sound to the album. The hard-hitting beat adds to the track’s intense energy and helps each artist stand out. One of the best moments on the song is Future’s intro and the beat switch that follows, which immediately grabs the listener’s attention and sets the tone for the rest of the track. This track stands out because it combines flexing, fame and emotional emptiness into one smooth atmospheric song. Drake, Future and Molly Santana sound effortless together, and the dark production gives it a late-night vibe that makes it really replayable.
#1: “Shabang” – 10/10
“Shabang” is a catchy, high-energy track. The beat, background production and ad-libs all come together well, and the transitions between the chorus and verses are especially memorable.The song is definitely made to hype listeners up. This song is mostly built around confidence, status and dominance. Drake uses these themes a lot, especially when he feels challenged by other rappers or public criticism. The lyrics aren’t super deep in a storytelling way, like other songs on the album, but they reveal a lot about his mindset and current position in rap.
“ICEMAN” shows that Drake is doing what he’s always done best, staying in the conversation. What really stands out is the production and replay value on the strongest songs. “ICEMAN” proves Drake still knows how to grab attention and make music people will keep running back to.
