DJ Khaled appeared to respond after listeners connected lyrics from Drake’s new project Iceman to the longtime producer and executive.
Fans focused on the track “Make Them Pay,” where Drake criticized Khaled over his public silence regarding Palestine.
Soon after the song’s release, Khaled shared a series of Instagram posts that many interpreted as an indirect reply.
In one Instagram Stories clip, Khaled avoided addressing the controversy directly and instead delivered a positive message while filming the view from his home.
“Good morning, what a beautiful morning,” he said.
“Sending love and blessing to everyone out there. And remember, life is beautiful. God’s morning… Good morning!”
Later, Khaled posted a separate video to Instagram showing himself riding a horse and paired it with a much more pointed caption.
“LET GOD RISE AND ALL HIS ENEMIES SCATTER,” Khaled wrote.
“No man nuh badda than JAH and wi a run JAH crew. Unoo come in a unoo thousands and two. They stand against you and hating me. Dem just cannot go through dem heart nuh clean nor free.”
“I remind dem so much of who they are supposed to be. I am of royalty dem lost dem identity.”
Comments on the post were turned off.
On “Make Them Pay,” Drake referenced Khaled by name while discussing the war in Gaza and reactions from people around him.
“Dog, I was aidin’ Ross with streams before Adin Ross had ever streamed,” Drake raps.
“And, Khaled, you know what I mean.”
“The beef was fully live, you went halal and got on your deen.”
“And your people are still waitin’ for a free Palestine.”
“But apparently everything isn’t black and white and red and green, damn.”
“I’m seein’ everyone’s true colors, for real, I’m sensin’ a theme.”
Drake and producer 40 were among the first major music figures to publicly support a ceasefire in Gaza.
In October 2023, Drake signed an open letter calling for immediate de-escalation and a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza.
The rapper, who is Jewish, publicly backed the petition alongside several other artists.
Khaled, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Palestine, has not made public statements about the conflict.
A United Nations special committee has described the situation in Gaza as a genocide.
