Drake, the renowned hip hop artist, has escalated his legal battle against Universal Music Group by amending his defamation lawsuit to include Kendrick Lamarโs performance of โNot Like Usโ at the recent Super Bowl. Drake asserts that the Super Bowl presentation was damaging, describing it as an orchestrated effort to damage his reputation in front of a huge audience.
The recent filing in federal court in Manhattan highlights that the halftime show reached an unprecedented audience of over 133 million, including many first-time listeners of the contentious track. According to the lawsuit, the Super Bowl should not have been used as a platform to target and tarnish another artist, referring to the incident as an attack on his character.
Interestingly, during the Super Bowl performance, Lamar omitted the word โpedophileโ from his lyrics, which the lawsuit argues demonstrates acknowledgment of its defamatory nature. Drakeโs legal team also accuses Universal Music of employing financial leverage to secure Lamarโs high-profile halftime slot, thereby amplifying the songโs reach and impact.
Michael Gottlieb, representing Drake, claims the amended lawsuit fortifies their stance, insisting that Universal Musicโs actions will be scrutinized and held accountable. He alleges the conglomerateโs decisions were poorly conceived and reckless, aggressively promoting a track that could cause harm.
The Super Bowlโs record-breaking viewership further heightened the stakes, adding more weight to Drakeโs case. Universal Music, however, denies these allegations, suggesting that Drake is being misled by his legal advisors into taking baseless legal steps that fail to hold substance.
Drakeโs camp maintains that their pursuit of accountability from Universal Music reflects their fearless commitment to address corporate wrongdoing, underscoring the gravity of the situation they face. Furthermore, Drakeโs suit points to the Grammy Awards, where โNot Like Usโ received significant acclaim, as another instance where Universal Music allegedly supported the defamatory track.
Drake initially sued the music giant for damages related to the circulation and endorsement of โNot Like Us,โ a track laced with false allegations about him. These actions have purportedly led to violence and safety breaches at his home, as well as broader implications for his career and branding. Online harassment and reputational damage are said to have compounded these issues as well, complicating his renegotiations with Universal Music.
The longstanding rivalry between Drake and Lamar, both titans in the music industry, adds a complex layer to the dispute. Stemming from a decade-old collaboration, hostility between the two has intensified over the years, with a series of diss tracks exchanged. Lamarโs โNot Like Usโ intensified conflict, with loaded lyrics directly aimed at Drake.
In defense, Universal Music argues that Drake actively participated in this feud, contributing his own provocative diss tracks aimed at Lamar. They contend that Drake instigated the rivalry, and responding to the consequences of losing a lyrical battle should be accepted, not litigated.
Ultimately, the amended lawsuit casts a spotlight on the intricate dynamics of artist rivalries, industry promotion, and reputational management, raising significant questions about the responsibilities of record labels and the boundaries of artistic competition.