Drake’s artistry has long attracted criticism and it still does, even though he clearly has real classics in his catalog. Albums like Take Care, Nothing Was The Same, and If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late are usually the first to be mentioned. Still, the reason his place in hip hop sparks debate is that much of his extensive discography continues to receive heavy praise, even when some listeners feel the quality does not always match the hype.
Because of that, online discussions about how many of his projects truly stand the test of time have only grown louder. One person who never hesitates to defend Drake, though, is DJ Akademiks. The hip hop commentator has supported him for years and has built a close and seemingly trusted relationship with the rapper.
That said, many of his opinions tend to divide listeners, with some viewing them as extreme. So it is not entirely surprising to hear him label a more recent or solid but not universally praised Drake album as a classic. Over the weekend, he argued that the Toronto star’s 2023 release For All The Dogs belongs in that elite category.
In a clip shared by the secondary account Akademiks TV, he also described it as one of the greatest breakup albums ever made.
What Has DJ Akademiks Said About ICEMAN?
Speaking like a devoted supporter, Akademiks goes as far as placing Drake in G.O.A.T. territory while lip syncing to “Virginia Beach.” “This why Drake the greatest. It’s like the n**** know me gang!” he says, adding that since 2009 the artist has always released at least one song that felt personal to him.
At the end of the day, there are few things more impactful than music that feels deeply relatable. Still, considering how Akademiks is perceived, many people continue to mock him for holding this opinion.
While elevating For All The Dogs to such a high level, he also suggested that Drake’s next release will push his legacy even further. He claimed that when Drizzy drops again, “he’ll be the G.O.A.T. even more!” He also recently tweeted that the upcoming album ICEMAN is arriving very soon, writing, “ICEMAN SO SOON! MY GOAT ALWAYS DELIVERS!”
He has shared several posts like this on Twitter over the past few weeks, steadily building anticipation. Although there is still no official release date from Drake, it sounds like the project could arrive sometime during the colder months.
Fontaines D.C. have teamed up with Rosalía for their new collaboration, Where Is Gone?.
The song features on the Irish rock band's forthcoming album, Dopamine Chamber, which arrives on Friday (16.10.26). For guitarist Carlos O’Connell, working with the Spanish superstar is particularly special because of his own Spanish roots.
He explained: “I’ve admired Rosalía ever since her debut album, which I thought was absolutely beautiful.
“What excited me most was the way she continued to preserve Spain's musical traditions, something that felt spiritually connected to what we've been trying to achieve with Irish music. Having roots in both countries, it's been really special to witness. "She's an artist who has continued to amaze me at every point in her career.”
Frontman Grian Chatten has also described the collaboration with Rosalía as one of the most memorable achievements of his career.
He revealed that he felt "humbled" when she agreed to lend her voice to the band's album.
Speaking to NPR, Grian said: “I've always felt there's something almost like a single big idea that I'm personally trying to communicate to the world before I get old and die, if that makes sense. There's one thing I think I'll spend my life trying to express. I have a feeling she has a similar outlook. … I mean, she's an amazing arranger, composer and lyricist. It means so much that she wanted to sing on something we'd put together. It's definitely one of the highlights of my career.”
Rosalía's links to Irish rock music extend beyond Fontaines D.C. She also offered inspiration and helped develop the Spanish lyrics for U2's The Mirror Maker (Rosalía), a track from their forthcoming album, Carnaval de Luz.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week, she spoke about frontman Bono, saying: “I don't know him personally, but he sent me a text explaining that he was working on a new project and had written a song called The Mirror Maker."
Rosalía joked that Bono had invented a few words of his own.
She recalled telling him: “I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I told him he could create his own language if he wanted to.”
She described the opportunity to collaborate with the 66 year old music veteran as a real privilege.
She added: “Bono is a legend.
“It's amazing.”
Bono recently revealed that he was worried about seeming like a stalker when he reached out to Rosalía to ask whether he could name the song after her.
