Drake’s New Song ‘Dust’ Features Praise for SBF and Prison Release Demand

Drake’s ninth studio album Iceman has arrived with a track titled “Dust” that has sparked discussion for its unexpected praise of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the disgraced former CEO of FTX.

In the song’s second track, Drake raps:

“An FTX penthouse high-riser, yeah / Samuel Bankman, free all my guys up, yeah.”

The phrase “free all my guys” is a common hip-hop convention used to express solidarity with peers. The track aligns with the album’s aggressive tone, reinforcing Drake’s dominance while dismissing rivals as outdated figures clinging to past achievements. The chorus repeats the line: “Go blow the dust off your plaques.”

The music video for “Dust” offers no additional depth, instead featuring a playful police car race—a signature move from the Toronto rapper known for his high-energy antics.

Elsewhere in the song, Drake refers to himself as a “BTC crypto big-timer,” a line that highlights his apparent misunderstanding of Bitcoin (BTC) and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem. To underscore his global status, he name-drops luxury destinations tied to SBF’s former life, including Melbourne’s time zone, sold-out concerts, and the Bahamas, where SBF resided in a high-rise penthouse within the Albany neighborhood before his downfall.

SBF, who is serving a 25-year sentence at FCI Lompoc in California, was convicted in November 2023 on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. Judge Lewis Kaplan handed down the sentence in March 2024 and has since denied his appeals. Prosecutors allege that SBF siphoned approximately $8 billion from FTX customers into his private company, Alameda Research, marking one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history.

Despite his legal troubles, SBF has pursued a pardon, most notably by appealing to former President Donald Trump on social media. However, Trump and other political figures have dismissed his requests, leaving SBF with no clear path to early release.

Drake’s endorsement of SBF in “Dust” reflects the Canadian rapper’s long-standing ties to the controversial figure. His promotion of Stake.com, a crypto casino banned in the United Kingdom and restricted on Twitch, further underscores his alignment with high-risk ventures. Stake.com reportedly pays Drake tens of millions annually to endorse gambling, a fact prominently displayed on his Instagram bio, above his record label and fashion ventures.