ALBAWABA - Renowned Canadian hip-hop star Drake recently wowed his Arab audience and fans after sampling Fairuz’s iconic song 'Wahdon' during a teaser for his upcoming album 'ICEMAN.'
Dubbed "The Voice of Lebanon," Fairuz is considered one of the most iconic and legendary singers to have graced the Arabic music scene. Her soothing music is vastly celebrated among Middle Eastern people and is usually echoed across Lebanese restaurants and breakfasts around the globe.
Drake samples Fairuz in his new album 'ICEMAN'
During a livestream teaser for his ninth album, 'ICEMAN,' Drake features a sample of 'Wahdon,' giving it a lo-fi twist with a mellow beat in the background.
While many praised Drake's unusual sampling, several fans weren't so keen about it, stating that the added beat butchered a classic song. A social media user wrote on YouTube, "They just sabotaged the song."
On the contrary, another YouTube user wrote, "This beat is already fire but the Fairouz sample takes it to another level, I really hope Drake actually raps on this."
'Wahdon' was written by poet Talal Haidar and composed by the late Ziad Rahbani, who was Fairuz's son and one of Lebanon's most iconic composers and stars. The song explores subjects such as loneliness and the quiet void left by friends who drift away over time.
Drake's ninth studio album is expected to hit streaming platforms in late 2025 by OVO Sound and Republic Records. According to the community on Genius, the Canadian hip-hop star is reportedly releasing the album on Oct. 31, 2025.
