Oh, Drake. In perhaps the least surprising surprise of the year, the Canadian star has released not one but three albums: Iceman, Maid of Honour, and Habibti. The collection spans a staggering 43 songs, clocking in at around 142 minutes and 14 seconds. It is a deluge that, for many, epitomizes the artist's greatest flaw: his inability to self-edit.
A History of Bloat
This issue is not new. Bloat plagued 2018's Scorpion and 2023's For All the Dogs, both of which contained no fewer than 23 songs. The material was often severely lacking. Now, with three albums released simultaneously, the problem is magnified.
Why Three Albums?
Strained relations with his record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), may be a factor. Drake filed a lawsuit against UMG last year over Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us," which accused Drake of being a "certified paedophile." The lawsuit was dismissed, with a judge ruling that no reasonable person would take the allegation literally in a rap battle context. Drake appealed the decision just last month. Across these new projects, Drake hints at wanting out of his reported $400 million deal. On "Make Them Pay" from Iceman, he raps, "I'm better off independent, they should let him leave, yeah/ 'Cause I just wanna be free." On "Janice STFU," he declares, "Swear my label gotta free me, baby."
Mixed Quality
It is a relief to hear Drake acknowledge his decline on "Make Them Know": "What happened to Drake with the innocence? I don't think that we'll be seeing him again." On "High Fives," he admits, "I'm so loved and I'm so hated/ So conflicted, I'm so jaded." Yet, he remains his own worst enemy. Iceman starts strong with the superb "Make Them Cry," a rare moment of vulnerability where he discusses the Lamar feud, his father's cancer, and his anxiety about turning 40. But the album quickly devolves into a mess of erratic beat switches, misogyny, autotune, and rehashed grievances. Tracks like "What Did I Miss" and "2 Hard 4 the Radio" are cheesy and self-important.
Maid of Honour: A Breath of Fresh Air
In contrast, Maid of Honour offers playful skits, catchy melodies, smart samples, and guest features. "Amazing Shape" with Popcaan incorporates Beenie Man's classic "Who I Am." "Which One" with Central Cee features nods to Rihanna and the Spice Girls. "BBW" showcases a low, sexy murmur over Daft Punk-indebted synths, while "Stuck" is a blatant tribute to Michael Jackson. This album feels cohesive and inspired.
Habibti: A Disappointment
Unfortunately, Habibti is a mess. It opens with a baffling autotuned interpolation of "Auld Lang Syne" on "Rusty Intro." The record is an unfiltered word-vomit of unresolved issues, including hypocritical slut-shaming on "Slap the City" and the creepy "Classic." There is one excellent album buried somewhere in this triple release, but it is obscured by the overwhelming mediocrity. If only the Iceman could let himself thaw.
