Drake fans recently received a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the creation of his blockbuster three-album rollout after longtime collaborator Noel Cadastre shared what appear to be the original working tracklists for ICEMAN, HABIBTI, and MAID OF HONOUR.
The documents, which reportedly featured studio spreadsheets used throughout the album-making process, included song titles, production notes, approvals, mixes, and mastering information. For dedicated OVO supporters, the reveal offered a rare glimpse into how Drake’s biggest releases evolved before reaching streaming platforms.
Interestingly, ICEMAN remained largely unchanged from its original version. Most of the songs that appeared on the final album were already present in the early working documents, suggesting Drake had a clear vision for the project from the beginning.
However, one of the biggest surprises came from HABIBTI.
According to the leaked spreadsheet, the album initially included a track called “Vital,” a song that has achieved near-legendary status among Drake fans. Before the album’s release, “Vital” was reportedly replaced by “Classic,” leaving supporters wondering what might have been.
The discovery immediately sparked excitement throughout the OVO fan community. “Vital” has been one of Drake’s most sought-after unreleased records for years. Originally teased during the artist’s Boy Meets World Tour, the song never received an official release despite later surfacing online through leaks.
For many fans, the appearance of “Vital” on an official working tracklist serves as proof that Drake seriously considered releasing it during the HABIBTI sessions.
The documents also revealed several title changes throughout the development process. Fan-favorite single “Janice STFU” reportedly began life under the simpler title “Janice,” while another track may have evolved from a working title called “Can’t Play Switzerland” before becoming “Firm Friends.”
Elsewhere, the spreadsheets suggest Drake continued making adjustments well into the final stages of production. “I’m Spent,” featuring Loe Shimmy, appears to have been added relatively late to HABIBTI, while MAID OF HONOUR reportedly remained almost identical to its original sequence throughout development.
The reveal highlights just how much refinement goes into assembling a major album release. While artists often make last-minute changes before launch, fans rarely get to see the actual documents that capture those decisions in real time.
Even weeks after the release of ICEMAN, HABIBTI, and MAID OF HONOUR, Drake’s ambitious rollout continues to dominate conversations across hip-hop. And although “Vital” remains unreleased for now, its appearance on the tracklist has renew
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