Fat Joe is putting his money on Drake’s new artist Iceman, publicly co-signing the rising rapper and predicting that he will deliver major hits that shake up hip-hop. In a recent interview segment shared by TMZ, the Bronx legend reportedly praised Iceman’s potential and backed Drake’s decision to spotlight him as the next breakout name from the OVO camp, framing the move as the latest chapter in Drake’s ongoing influence on the culture.
Fat Joe’s endorsement comes as Drake continues to build anticipation around his current “Iceman” era, which already includes an upcoming studio album of the same name and a series of viral livestream rollouts.[1][3] According to HotNewHipHop, Fat Joe has recently been vocal about Drake’s impact on the charts, crediting the Toronto superstar with keeping hip-hop present in the Billboard Hot 100’s upper ranks for the last decade.[1] Joe’s new comments about Iceman reportedly extend that praise to Drake’s eye for talent, suggesting that the co-sign from one of rap’s most respected veterans could serve as an early boost for the young artist’s credibility.
The timing of the co-sign is significant. Drake’s forthcoming Iceman album has already generated conversation thanks to its livestream premieres and early singles, which Fat Joe and others have predicted will return Drake to chart dominance.[1][3] With Joe now betting on Iceman to deliver “phenomenal hits,” the narrative around the signee is less about being a typical new artist and more about being a key piece in Drake’s next phase. While detailed information about Iceman’s discography and background remains limited, the combination of Drake’s backing and Fat Joe’s public praise positions him as one of the more closely watched new names attached to a superstar in 2026.
For hip-hop, co-signs of this magnitude often function as accelerators, fast-tracking new acts from obscurity to mainstream visibility. Fat Joe’s history of spotting and supporting talent, paired with Drake’s established track record of breaking artists and dominating the charts, raises expectations that Iceman could quickly transition from promising newcomer to hit-maker if the music connects. As more music from Drake’s Iceman era rolls out and Iceman steps further into the spotlight, the industry will be watching closely to see whether Fat Joe’s bet on “phenomenal hits” pays off.
