Hip Hop/ Rap
Macklemore Cancelled, Yet Drake Says “Pray for Gaza” in a FOMO Track
Drake has not confirmed whether the song containing “Pray for Gaza” will receive an official release. And while the lyric can plausibly be heard as a reference to Gaza in the Middle East, the dancehall context leaves another interpretation possible.
Drake has sparked a fresh wave of debate after appearing to rap “Pray for Gaza” on an unreleased song premiered during his surprise FOMO film.
Drake has once again put Gaza into the conversation, but this time, the message arrived buried inside an unreleased song.
The Toronto superstar premiered his hour-long FOMO visual project on September 15, and around the 17:47 mark, fans noticed a striking lyric: “Pray for Gaza.” The dancehall-influenced track has not been officially released, and Drake has not announced a title or standalone release date.
The brief line has quickly become one of the most discussed moments from FOMO, particularly because of Drake’s previous public connection to the Gaza ceasefire movement.
Drake’s “Pray for Gaza” Lyric Goes Viral
The unreleased track leans heavily into Caribbean and dancehall sounds, with Drake delivering much of the performance in a Jamaican-influenced accent.
The song includes the phrase “Pray for Gaza,” followed by references that appear to connect the word “Gaza” to dancehall culture.
That has created an important layer of ambiguity.
“Gaza” could refer directly to Gaza in the Middle East, but it also has a well-established meaning within Jamaican dancehall through Vybz Kartel and his association with Portmore, Jamaica.
Kartel is widely associated with the “Gaza” identity and has influenced Drake’s interest in dancehall.
So while many listeners have interpreted the lyric as a reference to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Drake has not confirmed its precise intended meaning.
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Drake Previously Signed Gaza Ceasefire Letter
However, there is documented context behind the political interpretation.
In 2023, Drake was among the artists who signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter calling for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire involving Gaza and Israel. His longtime producer Noah “40” Shebib later explained that he approached Drake about signing the letter.
The letter also attracted signatures from major artists including Dua Lipa, Michael Stipe and Killer Mike.
That history makes the new “Pray for Gaza” lyric particularly notable, although it does not by itself establish exactly what Drake intended when he recorded the new line.
Drake Previously Called Out DJ Khaled
Drake also addressed Palestine on his 2026 album Iceman.
On “Make Them Pay,” Drake referenced longtime collaborator DJ Khaled and questioned his public silence regarding Palestine.
The song referenced Khaled’s Palestinian heritage and the phrase “Free Palestine,” turning the track into another moment where Drake connected his music to the issue.
The song became one of the tracks contributing to Drake’s record-setting week on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100.
The new FOMO lyric therefore arrives as part of a pattern of Drake referencing Palestine while otherwise maintaining a relatively selective public presence on political issues.
Why the Timing Is Raising Eyebrows
Drake’s new lyric arrives during one of the biggest music-industry controversies involving Palestine in recent memory.
Macklemore was recently removed from the U.S. leg of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making “Free Palestine” remarks during a September 4 performance at MetLife Stadium. Tour promoter Messina Touring Group said venue owners refused to host events featuring Macklemore.
The fallout intensified when Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Sheeran’s backing band Beoga withdrew from the tour.
Macklemore has since pledged his $1 million tour earnings to organizations supporting Palestinians and Gaza relief, while Robert Kraft committed $2 million to humanitarian efforts after Sheeran asked him to match the donation.
Against that backdrop, Drake’s decision to include the words “Pray for Gaza” in a new song has inevitably attracted heightened attention.
FOMO Is Packed With Unreleased Drake Music
The Gaza reference is only one piece of FOMO.
The hour-long project also premiered several previously unheard tracks and collaborations, including new material involving Don Toliver and Yeat, along with a new version of Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.”
The project continues Drake’s Iceman era while allowing him to experiment across rap, R&B, dancehall, and other sounds.
For now, however, one short phrase is dominating the conversation.
Drake has not confirmed whether the song containing “Pray for Gaza” will receive an official release. And while the lyric can plausibly be heard as a reference to Gaza in the Middle East, the dancehall context leaves another interpretation possible.
What is certain is that Drake has once again given fans and the internet another line to dissect.
