Canadian rapper Drake appeared to criticise DJ Khaled over his silence on Palestine in a newly released track from his surprise 2026 album rollout. The song, titled “Make Them Pay”, was released on 15 May as part of Drake’s albums Iceman, Habibti and Maid of Honour.
In the track, Drake references calls for public support for Palestine and suggests Khaled has avoided speaking publicly about the war in Gaza. The lyrics quickly sparked debate online, with fans and commentators discussing Khaled’s long-standing criticism over not publicly addressing the conflict despite his Palestinian background.
DJ Khaled, whose parents are Palestinian immigrants from the occupied West Bank, has previously faced backlash on social media for remaining largely silent on Gaza since the war escalated in October 2023. The track is one of several on Drake’s new releases aimed at fellow celebrities and music industry figures, including Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z.
