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.