Drake’s father, Dennis Graham, has clarified that he is currently cancer-free, hours after the rapper released a new album containing lyrics about his dad battling the disease.
On Friday (May 15), Drake surprise-dropped three new albums: Iceman, Maid of Honour and Habibti — his first studio projects since 2023’s For All the Dogs. On the opening track of Iceman, “Make Them Cry,” Drake includes an emotional outro that references his father’s health: “My dad got cancer right now, we battlin’ stages / Trust me when I say there’s plenty things I’d rather be facing.”
The lyric quickly sparked concern among fans, especially after Drake previewed the song during a recent ICEMAN livestream.
Speaking to TMZ outside Bar Jubilee in West Hollywood on Friday afternoon, Dennis Graham addressed the lyric directly. He confirmed he was previously diagnosed with lung cancer but has since beaten the disease, calling his recovery a “miracle.”
“I had lung cancer some time ago. It cleared up,” Graham said, adding that he is doing well and has even cut back on smoking. He noted that Drake was rapping about a past situation rather than a current one, saying his son is “living in the past.” Graham appeared in good spirits during the encounter and thanked fans for their concern.
The 6 God has frequently drawn from his complicated relationship with his father in his music. Drake was primarily raised by his mother, Sandi Graham, in Toronto following his parents’ separation, while Dennis, a musician originally from Memphis, has had an on-and-off presence in his life. The two have collaborated on music in the past, and Drake has often referenced family dynamics across his catalog.
Drake’s use of present tense when discussing past events in his lyrics is not uncommon, a stylistic choice that adds emotional weight even when the referenced circumstances have changed.
Social media reactions to the lyric initially included an outpouring of prayers and well-wishes for Dennis Graham. Following his clarification, the conversation shifted to relief mixed with discussion about the timeline in Drake’s songwriting.
This marks one of the more personal moments on Drake’s ambitious triple-album release day. Further details on the commercial performance of Iceman, Maid of Honour and Habibti are expected in the coming days.
