Storm on social media: Drake calls "pray for Gaza" in new song snippet | Listen

Canadian rapper Drake sparked a storm after including the call "pray for Gaza" in a new song. The line is sparking debate over whether it refers to the Gaza Strip or is a tribute to a Jamaican musician. Drake was among the signatories of a 2023 ceasefire petition.

Canadian rapper Drake sparked a storm on social media and in the music industry after releasing a snippet of a new song in which he is heard telling listeners to "pray for Gaza." The line was included in the chorus of a song with explicit sexual content, including graphic descriptions of sex and drugs. This has sparked heated debate among fans and critics over whether the reference is to the Gaza Strip in the Middle East, or whether it is a musical tribute to Jamaican singer Vybz Kartel, who often refers to his area in Jamaica as "Gaza City" and his fans as "Gaza Nation." Alongside the possibility of a tribute, it is hard to ignore the political context, especially given that Drake was among the first signatories of an open letter by artists in October 2023 calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel. The letter, sent to the US President and Congress, demanded de-escalation before further loss of life. In a 2025 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Drake's longtime producer Noah "40" Shebib recounted how the rapper joined the initiative, noting that the images and videos from Gaza caused his world to collapse.