Drake Sues UMG for Defamation Over Kendrick Lamar Diss Track
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 16: Rapper, songwriter, and icon Drake attends a game between the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Toyota Center on March 16, 2024 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Drake has taken his fight against Universal Music Group (UMG) to a whole new level by suing his own label for defamation. The rapper claims UMG orchestrated a campaign of deceit, accusing them of spreading false and harmful allegations through Kendrick Lamar’s hit song ‘Not Like Us.’
The Heart of the Allegations
Drake’s lawsuit claims that UMG intentionally released and promoted Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, ‘Not Like Us,’ despite being aware that its inflammatory lyrics and video content falsely portray Drake as a child pornographer. He says the song’s accusations were baseless but calculated to generate shock value and financial gain for the label.
According to Drake’s lawsuit, Kendrick’s track contains ‘inflammatory and shocking allegations’ that UMG used as a ‘gold mine.’
He claims that UMG’s motivation was purely financial; using the song to damage his reputation and brand value would ultimately enhance the label’s bargaining position in future negotiations.
Big Money Stakes
In 2022, Drake signed a significant contract with UMG that is believed to be worth $400 million. According to the lawsuit, UMG has been trying to devalue Drake’s brand to reduce his leverage during upcoming renegotiations. According to the rapper, UMG used unethical methods, including employing a third party to increase the streaming numbers for ‘Not Like Us’ by at least 30 million through bot manipulation. He also claims that UMG engaged in ‘pay-for-play’ deals with a radio promoter to push the song to the top of the charts falsely. Drake brings attention to UMG’s dishonest promotion of the track as a ‘chart-topper,’ even though the data was artificially inflated.
Super Bowl Showdown
Adding fuel to the fire, Drake’s lawsuit suggests that UMG played a role in securing Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. Drake contends that this was part of a larger plan to increase the popularity of ‘Not Like Us,’ by utilizing the NFL’s massive platform to elevate the song even more. Drake is raising questions about whether the NFL and FOX, which is broadcasting the game, will allow Kendrick to perform lyrics that allege Drake is a pedophile. The Super Bowl is a cultural event that is widely watched, and the rapper contends that UMG’s actions are reckless, given the potential global exposure of harmful claims.
Real-World Impact
The real-world consequences of the false allegations are highlighted in Drake’s lawsuit. According to him, there have been numerous shooting incidents near his Toronto mansion since the release of ‘Not Like Us.’ Drake blames the incendiary lyrics for the shooting of a security guard in one instance.
Drake’s Focus: UMG, Not Kendrick
In an interesting turn, Drake clarified in the lawsuit that his issue is not directly with Kendrick Lamar. He stated that UMG is the sole defendant in this lawsuit, not the artist who created ‘Not Like Us’.
