Drake’s Fear of Missing Out did more than give fans another collection of expensive visuals, unreleased music and celebrity cameos. The Toronto superstar’s self-funded film also became a hip-hop decoding exercise, with viewers debating everything from historic jewelry to possible references involving Michael Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Kendrick Lamar.

Drake described FOMO before its release as “self-funded surrealism” and a story about making the most of one summer. He also presented the project as a response to the idea that music videos—and perhaps hip-hop’s larger visual tradition—no longer matter. The finished film includes speedboats, workouts, glimpses inside Drake’s lifestyle, appearances from figures including Sexyy Red, snippets of new music and confirmation that a tour is expected in 2027. Pitchfork reported those details following the premiere.

But four smaller moments may have generated the biggest online conversation.

Drake Displays Tupac Shakur’s Crown Ring

One scene takes viewers inside Drake’s jewelry collection. While displaying a crown-shaped ring, he asks, “You know whose ring that is?”

Some social-media users initially guessed that the piece once belonged to Pharrell Williams. That confusion was understandable: Drake previously purchased and displayed several recognizable pieces from Pharrell’s jewelry archive.

This ring, however, has been identified as the crown ring designed and worn by Tupac Shakur.

Drake purchased the gold, ruby and diamond piece at a Sotheby’s auction in 2023 for $1,016,000. Tupac wore it during his final public appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 4, 1996. The ring was created to commemorate his engagement to Kidada Jones and bears the inscription “Pac & Dada 1996.” Pitchfork documented Drake’s purchase and the ring’s history.

That makes the FOMO scene more than a routine jewelry flex. Drake is displaying a physical artifact connected to one of the most closely examined final chapters in hip-hop history.

Was Drake’s Military Jacket a Michael Jackson Homage?

Another sequence shows Drake dancing while wearing an ornate military-style jacket. The styling immediately reminded some viewers of Michael Jackson’s signature royal and military-inspired wardrobe.

Jackson frequently wore embellished jackets featuring gold braiding, structured shoulders and ceremonial details. Those designs also drew from earlier military fashion and the colorful uniforms associated with The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band era.

Drake has not publicly confirmed that the FOMO outfit or choreography was intended as a Michael Jackson tribute. It should therefore be treated as a visual interpretation—not an established fact. Still, the combination of the jacket, dancing and cinematic presentation makes the comparison understandable.

Drake has referenced Jackson before, both lyrically and visually, and collaborated with posthumous Michael Jackson vocals on the 2018 song “Don’t Matter to Me.” Within a film concerned with ambition, spectacle and legacy, the apparent connection to the King of Pop carries additional weight.

Did the “Barbie” Line Reference Nicki Minaj?

Fans also focused on a new lyric in which Drake mentions having “Barbie” on his wrist and feeling “dolled up.” The word choice immediately led listeners to connect the bar with Nicki Minaj, whose Barbie identity has been part of her music, fan community and public image throughout her career.

Drake and Nicki’s history stretches back to their Young Money beginnings, with years of collaborations, public support, tension and reconciliation giving almost any indirect reference added significance.

However, the lyric does not name Nicki directly. “Barbie” could function as a jewelry metaphor, a general pop-culture reference or an intentional double meaning. Until Drake explains it, describing the moment as a possible Nicki Minaj callback is more accurate than presenting it as a confirmed shout-out.

Did Drake Send Another Message Toward Kendrick Lamar?

The final music segment generated another round of speculation. Listeners highlighted bars about Drake’s circle getting smaller, being from “the Dot” and “squaring up.” Some interpreted the aggressive closing language as another subliminal message toward Kendrick Lamar following their highly publicized rap battle.

Again, Kendrick is not named. The lyrics can be heard as a general warning to rivals, a statement about loyalty or a continuation of Drake’s familiar competitive posture. But because of the history between the two artists, fans are likely to examine any confrontational Drake verse for possible connections.

The uncertainty may be part of the strategy. A direct diss provides an immediate headline; an ambiguous line keeps listeners replaying, debating and searching for additional clues.

Drake Turned Fear of Missing Out Into the Rollout

The project’s delayed premiere—and reports from viewers that the replay temporarily became unavailable afterward—made its title feel unusually literal. Fans who missed the original broadcast were left searching for clips and reactions while social media reconstructed the film’s most discussed moments.

Whether that temporary disappearance was intentional or technical, it strengthened the central idea behind FOMO: the fear that something culturally important happened while the viewer was somewhere else.

That may be the film’s most effective accomplishment. The confirmed Tupac artifact supplies hip-hop history, while the possible Michael Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Kendrick Lamar references keep audiences interpreting Drake’s place within pop and rap culture.

The Tupac ring is real. The other three connections remain open to debate—and that uncertainty is exactly what keeps FOMO in the conversation.

What did you notice first: Tupac’s crown ring, the possible Michael Jackson homage, the “Barbie” lyric or the alleged Kendrick Lamar sub?