Drake blasts DJ Khaled’s silence on Palestine

• Drake calls out DJ Khaled’s silence on the 'Israel'-Gaza war in the track "Make Them Pay," referencing Khaled's Palestinian heritage.
• Canadian rapper released three simultaneous projects -Iceman, Maid of Honour, and Habibti- totaling 43 new songs.

Drake has ignited a high-profile feud with longtime collaborator DJ Khaled, criticizing the producer’s lack of public support for Palestine in his newly released album.

The Canadian rapper surprised the music industry by dropping three full-length albums on Friday -Iceman, Habibti and Maid of Honor- marking his official return to the spotlight following a turbulent year of rivalries.

On the track titled "Make Them Pay" from the Iceman project, Drake delivers a pointed lyric aimed at Khaled, who is of Palestinian descent.

"And Khaled, you know what I mean / The beef was fully live, you went halal, and got on your deen / And your people are still waitin' for a Free Palestine / But apparently, everything isn't black and white and red and green," Drake raps, referencing the colors of the Palestinian flag.

Backlash over DJ's silence

The lyrics serve as a direct critique of DJ Khaled, who has faced persistent backlash from fans and activists for failing to publicly address the conflict in Gaza since October 2023.

Critics have often contrasted Khaled's current silence with his past vocal advocacy during the Black Lives Matter protests.

In 2024, Khaled’s cousin, Fadie Musallet, told The National that the producer’s silence had deeply disappointed Palestinians.

"They are really hurt by the lack of support; they feel like they have been let down," Musallet said. He questioned why the producer, who has often spoken of his Palestinian roots, had remained silent despite the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Drake's history of support

Although Drake has rarely spoken in detail about Middle Eastern geopolitics, he has signaled support for Palestinian causes in specific instances.

In October 2023, he joined a list of prominent celebrities in signing the Artists4Ceasefire letter, which urged a cessation of hostilities in Gaza.

More recently, in August 2025, the rapper was filmed acknowledging pro-Palestine protesters from a hotel balcony in Copenhagen.

The surprise release of the three albums was preceded by a YouTube livestream titled "Iceman Episode 4," where the rapper previewed the visuals and tracks.

The trilogy features a combined 43 songs and includes collaborations with Future, 21 Savage, and Sexyy Red.

With the release of Habibti, Drake appears to be leaning further into Middle Eastern cultural references while simultaneously challenging the silence of his industry peers.