When Drake isn’t busy with high-stakes sports betting or engaging with online streamers, one might imagine him in his Canadian estate, scouring the depths of YouTube’s hip-hop archives or sharing obscure SoundCloud links. His latest project, a revenge-themed trilogy comprising Iceman, Habibti, and Maid of Honour, suggests he remains an unconventional rap enthusiast, unafraid to explore sounds that often sit outside the mainstream spotlight.

“Rusty Intro,” a standout from Habibti, serves as a prime example of this curiosity. It is an Auto-Tuned acoustic guitar ballad that, while perhaps inspired by his casual associations with Morgan Wallen, feels more like an attempt to capture the raw, stripped-down aesthetic of pain rap. It echoes the somber tones found in tracks like NoCap’s “Drown in My Styrofoam” and Rod Wave’s “Chip on My Shoulder.” While Morgan Wallen has certainly flirted with the pain rap sound through a Nashville lens, Drake’s approach here feels distinct, if not entirely successful.

The primary critique of the track lies in its lyrical ambiguity. Drake’s writing often lacks the sharp, visceral urgency that defines the best work of artists like NoCap or Rod Wave. Instead, he leans into broader, more existential questions, such as, “How would they describe me as a man?” This ongoing preoccupation with his public image and the framing of his masculinity—a theme that became particularly prominent during his Kendrick Lamar feud—often leaves his music feeling less grounded and less compelling than his earlier, more focused efforts.

However, the song finds its footing in the latter half, thanks to the inclusion of DJ Frisco954. The Florida-based specialist brings a hyperregional energy that effectively injects life into the track, proving that while Drake may struggle with the thematic weight of pain rap, he still possesses the ear to identify and incorporate exciting, niche sounds into his production. Ultimately, “Rusty Intro” is a testament to Drake’s desire to remain relevant by engaging with the fringes of the genre, even if the execution doesn’t always hit the mark.