Drake’s new album ICEMAN opens with “Make Them Cry,” a track that has drawn attention for its direct reference to BTS.
In the song, Drake raps, “I’m feeling like BTS,” before drawing a parallel between the group’s long rise and his own career arc. The line appears to point to delayed recognition: the idea of becoming widely “discovered” only after years of work, visibility, and cultural impact.
I’m feeling like BTS ’cause it took the whole career for me to be so discovered
For BTS, that comparison carries a clear context. Since debuting in 2013, the group built its global audience gradually, moving from early industry skepticism to becoming one of the most internationally recognized Korean acts in music. Drake’s lyric uses that trajectory as a reference point, framing BTS not only as a symbol of fame, but as an example of sustained growth over time.
The moment gained wider attention after V and J-Hope reacted to the line in a video clip. As the song played, the two BTS members paused when they heard the group mentioned, turning the lyric into one of the most circulated moments from the album’s early release.
The reaction online has been mixed. Some listeners read the lyric as a nod to BTS’ global rise, while others debated whether the comparison fully captures the group’s path and the barriers they faced before broader Western recognition.
Either way, the reference places BTS in a notable position within Drake’s album rollout. It is not a collaboration or official crossover, but it shows how the group’s career has become a shorthand for global reach, longevity, and delayed mainstream recognition across music circles.
