Drake has officially filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the company of defamation and harassment over its involvement with Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, Not Like Us.
On Wednesday, January 15, the Toronto rapper submitted the complaint to a New York federal court. He alleged that UMG, which oversees his and Kendrick’s record labels, orchestrated a campaign to make the track a global hit while promoting damaging accusations against him.
The lawsuit claims that UMG approved and launched a strategy to falsely portray Drake as a pedophile while encouraging violent retribution against him. According to the filing, the company also used unethical tactics, such as paying for fake streams and radio play, to amplify the song’s reach.
Drake asserts that UMG’s motivation was financial gain. The controversy surrounding the track would generate significant revenue and weaken Drake’s brand value, giving the company leverage during contract renegotiations. The lawsuit highlights this alleged strategy, noting that UMG sought to avoid the high costs of renewing Drake’s contract by devaluing his music and reputation.
The complaint includes examples of online hate speech targeting Drake since the song’s release. It also mentions a shooting at his Toronto home that injured a security guard, as well as multiple incidents of trespassing. The rapper claims these threats have forced him to take extensive security measures, including relocating his son and mother.
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Despite backlash from some in the Hip Hop community over his legal approach, Drake emphasizes that his issue is not with Kendrick Lamar but with UMG. The lawsuit states that UMG knowingly promoted and monetized false and dangerous allegations against him.
This legal move follows Drake’s earlier pre-action petitions against UMG and Spotify in November, accusing them of using streaming bots and payola to boost the track’s success. While UMG and Spotify denied the claims, Drake’s pursuit of justice continues with this fresh lawsuit.
UMG has not yet responded to the latest allegations, and Drake demands a jury trial to resolve the matter.
