Drake, also known as Aubrey “Drake” Graham, is highly intertwined with the sports culture, and this relationship is reciprocated by athletes. As Drake debuted his latest music on a live stream, athletes swiftly took to social media to share their reactions.
Notably, Kevin Durant, a long-time supporter of Drake’s OVO brand, attended Drake’s album release event at Casa Loma in Toronto. Following this, various sports teams engaged by creating memes related to Drake to leverage his ability to attract attention in the vast online landscape.
Drake’s involvement in sports extends back for years. He has collaborated with FIFA to promote the upcoming 2026 Men’s World Cup and worked with ESPN to curate music for NFL coverage. Additionally, he has been the Toronto Raptors’ Global Ambassador since 2013.
In his latest triple album release, particularly in the much-anticipated ‘Iceman’ along with surprise bonus albums ‘Habibti’ and ‘Maid of Honour’, sports references are prevalent. One standout track is titled ‘WNBA’, coinciding with Canada’s first WNBA team securing their inaugural win.
The album, comprising 43 tracks, features numerous sports-related lyrics reflecting Drake’s passion for sports. Here are the top five sports-related lyrics from the new albums:
Honourable mention: Jalen Hurts mention on ‘Make Them Pay’ where Drake relates to being a scapegoat, much like Hurts as the Eagles’ quarterback.
5. In ‘2 Hard 4 the Radio’, Drake references Stephen Curry, acknowledging Curry’s college days at Davidson.
4. ‘Make Them Remember’ alludes to LeBron James and Kendrick Lamar, highlighting LeBron’s tendency to switch teams and Kendrick Lamar’s hit record.
3. ‘Firm Friends’ mentions PSG and digital music providers, showcasing Drake’s influence and his son’s involvement in a PSG match.
2. ‘Hurr Nor Thurr’ includes a reference to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, showing both love and rivalry between the two.
1. ‘National Treasure’ takes a direct shot at DeMar DeRozan, former Toronto Raptor, for his playoff performances and public interactions with Kendrick Lamar.
These lyrics not only showcase Drake’s affinity for sports but also his ability to cleverly integrate sports references into his music, sparking conversations and controversies in the sports and entertainment realms.
