Canadian rapper Drake has taken a jibe at DJ Khaled in his new song, calling out the Palestinian-American music mogul for staying silent on the genocide in Gaza while his people continue to suffer.
The line appeared in ‘Make Them Pay’, a track on Iceman – one of the three albums Drake dropped simultaneously on Friday, alongside Habibti and Maid of Honour.
“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, damn,” it goes.
The callout landed in the middle of a genocide that has killed over 72,500 people in Gaza. As the death toll climbed and celebrities across the world began publicly backing Palestinian civilians, Khaled continued posting his usual content online, a choice that drew heavy criticism from fans who expected more from someone with direct roots in the region.
Drake, by contrast, was among the voices calling for peace. He was one of several prominent names including Zendaya, Ben Affleck and Zayn Malik, to sign a letter urging an end to the genocide.
Meanwhile, the frustration with Khaled’s silence was not limited to social media. Fadie Musallet, his cousin and a Dubai Bling cast member, spoke to The National in 2024 and did not hold back. “Khaled always wanted to go to Palestine, but I don’t think he can come there now,” he said.
“They are really hurt by the lack of support, they feel like they have been let down,” Musallet added, highlighting what he saw as a contradiction in his cousin’s public record.
Khaled has previously used his platform to speak up during the Black Lives Matter movement, which made his silence on Gaza harder for many to understand.
“At some point there must be a stage where you have to ask yourself how much money is enough,” Musallet said.
“I know that Khaled is not afraid to use his important voice as he did before, during the Black Lives Matter protests. So, what has changed now?”
