Drake has launched a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), the parent company of both himself and Kendrick Lamar.
The Canadian rapper filed the suit in federal court on Wednesday, accusing the release of Lamar’s track “Not Like Us” of prioritising “corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists.”
The song, which targets Drake, includes lyrics where Lamar labels the rapper a “paedophile” and accuses him of cultural appropriation.
Drake, who is signed to UMG subsidiary Republic Records, argues that the track, which was published by UMG’s Interscope Records (Lamar’s label), was strategically released to create controversy and gain attention.
The lawsuit asserts that UMG “approved, published, and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track” that falsely accused Drake of being a criminal paedophile. It claims the aim was to incite public backlash and promote vigilante justice against him.
The lawsuit reads: “UMG intentionally sought to turn Drake into a pariah, a target for harassment, or worse… not because it believes any of these false claims to be true, but instead because it would profit from damaging Drake’s reputation.”
This legal action follows Drake’s previous claims, made two months ago, that UMG and Spotify inflated the streaming numbers for “Not Like Us.” However, it was reported late on Tuesday that Drake had dropped that particular lawsuit.
“This lawsuit is not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us,’” states the new legal filing. “It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetise allegations it knew to be false and dangerous.”
“Not Like Us” became one of the biggest hits of 2024, spending two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and an impressive 20 weeks at No.1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
The song is nominated for five Grammy Awards, including Song and Record of the Year, and has become a global cultural anthem, transcending its origins as a diss track.
Days after the release of the track, Drake’s security guard was shot outside his Toronto home.
In the lawsuit, Drake expresses concern for his safety, stating that he fears for the security of himself, his family, and his friends due to ongoing threats.
Following the attack on his home, Drake withdrew his son from his Toronto school due to safety fears, and after the school year ended, he arranged for both his son and mother to leave the city entirely.
The feud between Drake and Lamar reignited in March after a series of diss tracks. Lamar responded with “Not Like Us,” accusing Drake of being a paedophile and appropriating Black culture, while also becoming one of the most streamed songs of the year.
The back-and-forth rivalry dates back to 2013, when Lamar, having previously collaborated with Drake, sent sharp jabs at his peers in his guest verse on Big Sean’s “Control.”
