Drake Files Federal Defamation Lawsuit Against UMG Over “Not Like Us”

January 16, 2025 642 78 5

Less than a day after he dropped his legal petition against Universal Music Group and Spotify, Drake has stepped forward to file a new lawsuit that’s only aimed at UMG.

According to a Wednesday report from TMZ, the Toronto rapper is suing UMG for helping spread the narrative that he’s a “pedophile.” If you recall, Kendrick Lamar repeatedly called Drake a pedophile on his chart-topping Drizzy diss, “Not Like Us.” Drake’s lawyers are arguing that the label, which is home to both Kendrick and Drake, promoted the track — which,

he contends, was filled with slanderous lies — with the purpose of devaluing Drake’s music and therefore, giving them leverage in any upcoming contract talks. Drake reportedly signed a very lucrative $400 million contract with UMG in 2022.

While much of the rap community and fans at large believe Drake lost his Kendrick battle fair and square, Drake claims UMG used bots to help artificially bolster Kendrick’s numbers, and thus, help devalue Drake’s music. He also believes the label played a role in getting Kendrick his forthcoming Super Bowl halftime performance next month.

This news arrives two months after Drake initially filed a legal petition against UMG and Spotify, and in it, he made most if not all of the same accusations. At the time, UMG dismissed Drake’s allegations.

“The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,” read the label’s statement to Variety. “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”

From Your Site Articles