Now Reading: Why did Drake drop 3 albums? Did he diss LeBron James? What’d he say?
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Why did Drake drop 3 albums? Did he diss LeBron James? What’d he say?
Why did Drake drop 3 albums? Did he diss LeBron James? What’d he say?
Updated May 15, 2026, 10:27 a.m. ET
Three albums. One night. Drake just rewrote the rules of a surprise drop.
The Canadian-American rapper released three studio albums at midnight May 15: “Iceman,” “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour.” He announced the drop on social media with three separate posts revealing the album covers.
The triple release includes 43 songs in total and features collaborations with artists that include Central Cee, 21 Savage, Popcaan, Sexyy Red and PartyNextDoor. Drake also released seven music videos on YouTube in the hours following the albums’ release.
But why did Drake drop three albums? Did he diss LeBron James and Kendrick Lamar? Here’s everything to know.
Did Drake drop 3 albums? How many albums did Drake drop?
Yes, Drake released the following three albums at 12 a.m. ET May 15: “Iceman,” “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour.”
According to the BBC, “Iceman” is more of a traditional rap album, “Habibti” is more R&B-focused and “Maid of Honour” is inspired by dance music.
Why did Drake drop 3 albums?
Drake announced he would drop back-to-back albums during episode 4 of his “Iceman” livestream series, Pitchfork reports. But why the rapper decided to release three projects at once remains unclear.
Per the BBC, Drake’s 43-song drop could lead to accusations that he is “stream trolling,” which the site defines as “publishing multiple songs to boost overall listening figures.” Music journalist and radio presenter Mary Mandefield told the British news site that if Drake is trying to amp up his streaming numbers, he might find success by releasing projects with three different sounds.
Mandefield also adds Drake wouldn’t be the first artist to attempt this trick, citing Migos 24-track album “Culture II” and Chris Brown’s 47-track deluxe edition of “Heartbreak on a Full Moon,” both of which have been accused of stream trolling.
Where to listen to ‘Iceman,’ ‘Habibti’ and ‘Maid of Honour’
Fans can listen to Drake’s three new albums on multiple streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Did Drake diss LeBron James on ‘Iceman’?
Drake appeared to take a few shots at NBA legend and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James on his new “Iceman” album, according to For The Win. In the song “Make Them Remember,” Drake seems to reference James’ move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat, then back to Cleveland, before finally landing in Los Angeles.
“I shouldn’t even be shocked to see you in that arena, because you always made your career off of switching teams up,” Drake raps.
For The Win writes Drake and James relationship seemed to grow “icy” after James, an Akron native, attended a Kendrick Lamar concert in Los Angeles during the rappers’ feud.
Drake, who once had LeBron’s No. 23 high school jersey tattooed on him, continues by rapping, “Please stop asking what’s going on with 23 and me,” before saying the person he is rapping about isn’t real, while Drake is, “it’s in my DNA.”
DNA is a reference to a line from Lamar’s 2017 album “DAMN,” USA TODAY adds.
Did Drake reignite Kendrick Lamar feud?
The Grammy-winning rapper also used his latest musical project to reignite his feud with fellow emcee Kendrick Lamar, USA TODAY writes. Drake and Lamar’s beef reportedly dates back to 2013 but reached a peak in 2024 when the rappers released a series of diss tracks, including Lamar’s No. 1 hit “Not Like Us.”
“But all I can think about is the mountain to climb and the conversations surrounding my music like they’re Twin Peak,” Drake raps on the “Iceman” album opener “Make Them Cry.”
“With Dot back in 2024 was a big piece / So, it’s like, this (stuff) is me, but it isn’t me / Y’all keep on asking me what it did to me, that’s what it did to me,” he continues.
In another track, Drake appeared to take aim at Lamar’s conscious rap style and affluent lifestyle. The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper is known for his introspective lyrics that tackle political and social themes.
“White kids listen to you ’cause they feel some guilt, and that’s how your soul get fulfilled,” Drake raps. “Handing out turkeys on camera inside of your hood, then you go back to the hills.”
The “Hotline Bling” rapper also seemingly referenced his previous legal battle with Universal Music Group and Spotify over the streaming success of Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” In November 2024, Drake filed a petition accusing the music companies of engaging in a “scheme to ensure” the diss track “broke through” on multiple streaming platforms.
He claimed UMG used underhanded tactics to garner more listeners for the song on Spotify and radio stations.
“Damn, who is this guy for real, I guess a magician,” Drake raps. “100 million streams vanished, no one got questions.”
Is Drake going on tour?
Drake has not officially announced a tour for “Iceman” or his surprise albums “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour.”
Contributing: Wajih AlBaroudi, For The Win; Taijuan Moorman and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY.
