Fans have eagerly anticipated the release of Drake’s ninth studio album, ICEMAN, for several months. As excitement builds, rumors have circulated following the emergence of various snippets of unreleased music attributed to the Toronto rapper. Many listeners speculated that these tracks might be included in the forthcoming album. However, Mal, co-host of the New Rory & Mal podcast, has dispelled these notions, stating that the leaked snippets will not be part of ICEMAN.
During a recent episode of the podcast, Mal addressed questions regarding the album while also commenting on a leak that coincided with the release of J. Cole’s new project, The Fall-Off. Responding to the speculation, Mal stated, “I didn’t hear it, but whatever it is, it ain’t on ICEMAN. I can tell you that.” He further emphasized, “None of what y’all are hearing on the internet is on ICEMAN. I can promise you that it’s not. None of that sh*t.” These remarks sought to clarify the confusion surrounding the leaked snippets.
In terms of the album’s release date, Mal suggested that fans could expect ICEMAN to arrive on February 13, although he noted that an official announcement had not yet been made. His comments came shortly after DJ Akademiks discussed the recent leaks during a livestream, pointing out that they overshadowed J. Cole’s entire release. Akademiks expressed that the situation has not been well received by fans or artists alike, stating, “If I had a Kendrick [Lamar] snippet, I’d have played it then, even with Drake. I don’t care. At the end of the day, you know I’m hip-hop, bro.”
The ongoing conversation within the hip-hop community reflects the high stakes surrounding the release of new music, especially from major artists like Drake and J. Cole. As fans continue to speculate about the contents of ICEMAN, the anticipation remains palpable.
