Entertainment
Drake Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Universal Music Group Over Kendrick Lamar Song
Rap icon Drake has initiated legal proceedings against Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the label of defamation and harassment over the release of Kendrick Lamar’s controversial diss track, Not Like Us. The track, which sparked widespread debate last year, contains inflammatory allegations against Drake, describing him and his entourage as “certified paedophiles” who should be “registered and placed on neighbourhood watch.”
Drake’s lawyers filed papers in New York, claiming that UMG orchestrated a “campaign to create a viral hit” using false accusations. The suit alleges:
- The song makes baseless claims about Drake’s character, portraying him as a criminal.
- UMG allegedly used the track to tarnish Drake’s reputation and provoke public outrage.
- The legal team argues that the track’s release and marketing campaign caused significant harm to Drake’s personal and professional image.
Universal Music Group has yet to issue a response to the defamation claims.
This lawsuit follows Drake’s withdrawal of a separate case against UMG and Spotify, filed just 24 hours earlier. That earlier suit alleged collusion between the two companies to artificially inflate streams of Not Like Us at the expense of Drake’s own music. In court documents, Drake’s team claimed that Universal had licensed the diss track to Spotify at reduced rates and used bots to boost its popularity.
Universal and Spotify refuted those allegations, with Universal stating, “The suggestion that [the company] would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue.” Spotify added that the platform has “no economic incentive” to favor one artist over another.
Drake withdrew the earlier lawsuit after a meeting with representatives from UMG and Spotify, as noted in court filings. While details of the meeting remain undisclosed, the resolution of that dispute has cleared the path for this new defamation case.
The ongoing legal battles have drawn significant attention within the music industry. While UMG and Spotify deny any wrongdoing, Drake’s defamation case underscores the complex dynamics between artists and record labels, particularly in an era where streaming plays a pivotal role in shaping public perception and success.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, the imprisoned rapper and music mogul, is expected to face more than 10 additional civil lawsuits in the coming days, according to attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents multiple accusers.
Buzbee made the announcement while filing a fresh lawsuit in New York on behalf of an unnamed 23-year-old male accuser. The plaintiff alleges he was drugged and sexually assaulted by Combs in 2015 after performing at a nightclub event the rapper attended. According to the lawsuit, the young performer was hoping to secure a deal with Combs’ record label, Bad Boy Records, when he was invited to an afterparty. He claims he was given a drink that left him disoriented and later woke up to being assaulted.
Combs, who is already facing more than 30 civil lawsuits over similar allegations, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He is also awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. His legal team has not yet responded to the latest allegations.
Buzbee, a high-profile Texas attorney, has been instrumental in multiple cases against Combs over the past year. He stated that he intends to file more than 10 additional lawsuits before the March 1 deadline for New York’s special law, which temporarily allows victims of past sexual abuse to file civil claims regardless of expired statutes of limitations.
Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, best known for her role in the iconic 2001 drama Meteor Garden, has passed away at the age of 48 due to pneumonia, local media report.
Hsu, one of the most recognized stars in the Mandarin-speaking entertainment industry, gained widespread fame across Asia, with Meteor Garden captivating audiences in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, where it was dubbed into local languages.
The news of her passing has left fans devastated, with millions expressing their shock online. “I can’t believe it,” wrote one Weibo user, echoing the sentiments of many.
Hsu reportedly fell ill while visiting Japan, where she was vacationing with her family during Lunar New Year. Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed the news to Taiwan’s TVBS News on Monday.
“During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by influenza,” Dee Hsu shared in a statement through her manager.
Barbie Hsu had a history of epilepsy and heart disease, and she had been hospitalized previously due to seizures.
She leaves behind her husband, South Korean singer DJ Koo, as well as two children from her previous marriage to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, whom she divorced in 2021 after ten years of marriage.
Hsu’s passing marks a heartbreaking loss for the Asian entertainment industry, with fans and colleagues mourning the end of an era for a star who helped define a generation of television romance.
Beyoncé has finally secured the coveted Album of the Year award at the 67th Grammy Awards, correcting what many saw as a long-standing injustice. The singer was honored for Cowboy Carter, her groundbreaking album that explores the Black roots of country music.
Having been passed over for the Grammys’ top prize four times before, Beyoncé’s moment of triumph was met with a standing ovation. She embraced her daughter Blue Ivy and husband Jay-Z before taking the stage in a gold paisley dress.
“I just feel very full and very honored,” she said. “It’s been many, many years.”
She dedicated the win to Linda Martell, a trailblazing Black country artist and the first Black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry. Martell’s influence is deeply woven into Cowboy Carter, with her voice appearing throughout the album.
Beyoncé’s victory comes 25 years after her first Grammy nomination with Destiny’s Child. Despite becoming the most-awarded artist in Grammys history—with a record 35 wins—she had never won Album of the Year until now.
The Texas-born artist’s genre shift proved historic. Cowboy Carter, the second in a trilogy exploring America’s musical heritage, has been praised for reshaping the narrative around country and Americana.
Beyoncé also becomes the first Black woman to win Album of the Year since Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1999, marking a milestone moment in Grammy history.
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