A prominent hip-hop rivalry intensified on Wednesday as Drake initiated a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) for defamation linked to Kendrick Lamar’s diss track titled “Not Like Us.”
The legal action, presented in a federal court in New York City, contends that UMG, which oversees both artists, actively publicized and supported the track despite it containing unfounded allegations of pedophilia against Drake, alongside implications urging vigilante justice among listeners. Lamar has not been named as a defendant in this suit.
According to the lawsuit, the fallout from the track included a security guard being shot, multiple attempted break-ins at Drake’s residence in Toronto, a surge of online hate and harassment directed at him, harm to his public image, and a decline in the value of his brand ahead of upcoming contract negotiations with UMG this year.
“The focus of this lawsuit is not on the artist who produced ‘Not Like Us,’” the complaint states, alluding to Lamar. “Rather, it lies solely on UMG, the music entity that chose to publish, promote, exploit, and profit from allegations it knew were false and perilous.”
The lawsuit further claims, “UMG acted in this manner because it recognized that the track’s inflammatory and shocking content represented a lucrative opportunity.”
Moreover, the filing asserts that the music label has made significant investments and utilized its connections to ensure “Not Like Us” is performed during the upcoming Super Bowl, where Lamar is slated to perform at halftime.
Drake’s legal team is pursuing damages and a trial, reiterating claims made in prior legal documents that UMG exaggerated the song’s popularity on various streaming platforms.
The track has received five Grammy nominations, including those for record and song of the year.
In response to the lawsuit, UMG issued a statement on Wednesday disputing the claims. “These allegations are not only false but also suggest an illogical motive where we would harm the reputation of any artist, particularly Drake,” the statement indicated. “We have made significant financial investments into his music, and our employees have dedicated enormous effort over many years to support his unprecedented commercial and personal success.”
The company also noted, “Drake has historically leveraged UMG to distribute his music, engaging in the conventional dynamics of ‘rap battles’ to express his feelings toward other artists. He is now using legal means to silence another artist’s creative voice and is seeking damages from UMG for distributing that artist’s work.”
Representatives for Lamar did not reply to requests for comments.
The ongoing feud between Drake, a Canadian rapper and five-time Grammy laureate, known formally as Aubrey Drake Graham, and Lamar, a Pulitzer Prize recipient, stands as one of the most significant conflicts in the hip-hop community in recent years. Both artists, known as giants in the genre, previously collaborated over a decade ago, but tensions escalated when Lamar began taking public shots at Drake in 2013, with the animosity reaching new heights in the past year.
Drake’s legal representatives from Willkie Farr & Gallagher in New York stated that the lawsuit aims to hold UMG accountable for endorsing and disseminating false and defamatory claims about him. They emphasized the distress caused by the violent incidents at Drake’s home, forcing him to relocate his family due to safety concerns.
“Since May 4, 2024, UMG has used its immense influence as the leading music company to propagate a message that jeopardizes Drake’s character, resulting in real violence at his home,” the law firm declared in a statement.
“The lawsuit underscores the human and business ramifications of UMG prioritizing profits over the safety and welfare of its artists, shedding light on the exploitation of artists and the public for corporate gains,” it concluded.
