Drake has initiated a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) for defamation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, Not Like Us.
The legal complaint asserts that UMG, to which both Drake, 38, and Lamar, 37, are contracted, published and promoted the track despite containing false accusations claiming that the God’s Plan artist is a paedophile, further insinuating that listeners should take matters into their own hands.
This lawsuit marks yet another chapter in the ongoing rivalry between two of hip hop’s foremost figures, who unleashed several diss tracks in the previous year filled with personal attacks on one another.
Lamar is not named in the lawsuit, which was lodged in a federal court in New York on Wednesday.
Seeking a trial along with an undisclosed sum for damages, the lawsuit contends that UMG knowingly chose to “publish, promote, exploit, and profit from allegations that it recognized were not only untrue but perilous”.
The filing claims that these accusations directly led to Drake’s security guard being shot outside his Toronto residence in May of last year, along with two attempts to break into his home within the same month.
Drake is recognized as the most-streamed hip hop artist worldwide. Pic: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
The artist, who holds the title of the most-streamed hip hop performer globally, further asserted that the track fomented online hostility and harassment, damaging his reputation and diminishing the value of his brand as he approached a contract renegotiation with the label this year.
The lawsuit also emphasized that UMG “recognized the recording’s incendiary and shocking claims were immensely profitable” yet took no action to amend or prevent its release.
Additionally, it reiterated points made in a previous legal petition filed by Drake’s company Frozen Moments LLC last November, alleging that UMG and Spotify artificially inflated the popularity of Not Like Us, “including utilizing bots and pay-to-play arrangements”.
In a response to Sky News previously, UMG firmly dismissed these allegations, with a spokesperson labeling them “offensive and untrue”.
UMG continues to deny the latest accusations, asserting in a statement on Wednesday: “These claims are not only false, but the idea that we would aim to tarnish the reputation of any artist—let alone Drake—is absurd.”
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Furthermore, it stated: “Throughout his career, Drake has purposefully and effectively utilized UMG to distribute his music and lyrics, engaging in conventionally provocative back-and-forth ‘rap battles’ to convey his sentiments about other artists.”
“He is now attempting to weaponize the legal system to suppress an artist’s creative expression and to demand damages from UMG for disseminating that artist’s music.”
Lamar’s diss track, Not Like Us, garnered almost 900 million streams since its launch on May 4. It is in contention for five Grammys, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
The Pulitzer Prize recipient is scheduled to headline the halftime show for the upcoming Super Bowl.
