Anthony Fantano slams Drake's new album ICEMAN as his lowest artistic moment, despite shattering Spotify streaming records with 140M+ first-day plays.
- May 23, 2026
AceShowbiz - Music critic Anthony Fantano has voiced strong disapproval of rapper Drake’s latest album, ICEMAN, describing it as a low point in the artist’s career despite its record-breaking streaming debut.
ICEMAN shattered Spotify streaming records during its first week, amassing over 140 million streams on day one alone, before dropping to around 70 million on day two. However, Fantano is unimpressed by the project’s content and tone.
According to Fantano, the album feels dominated by bitterness and personal grievances, with Drake focusing more on airing conflicts than creating memorable music. He suggested the rapper’s mood on the album is one of sadness and bitterness, marking it as his lowest artistic moment to date.
The critic particularly noted that ICEMAN centers on Drake’s fallout with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar, portraying the album as a response to that feud rather than a purely musical endeavor. Fantano contrasted this approach with how Jay-Z handled public criticism during his post-Nas era, highlighting Jay-Z’s ability to control his narrative through strong music rather than grievance-driven content.
Fantano has been openly critical of Drake for years, previously rating the album For All the Dogs five out of ten and calling Honestly, Nevermind “not good.” In response, Drake once dismissed Fantano by saying his existence rates as a “light 1.”
Despite mixed critical reception, Drake’s recent three-album rollout continues to attract extensive streaming numbers and fan attention, maintaining his status as a dominant figure in contemporary hip-hop.
