Universal Music Group has responsed to Drake’s defamation lawsuit which was filed in relation to Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us.
The company in its legal rebuttal said Drake’s case lacked merit and was an attempt to massage his bruised ego, following the defeat in the rap battle with Lamar.
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“Plaintiff, one of the most successful recording artists of all time, lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated…
“Instead of accepting the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be, he has sued his own record label in a misguided attempt to salve his wounds,” UMG said in its filing.
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The company also noted that the Canadian rapper accused Kendrick of domestic abuse and even questioned whether he was really the father of his son.
“Drake has been pleased to use UMG’s platform to promote tracks leveling similarly incendiary attacks at Lamar…but now, after losing the rap battle, Drake claims that ‘Not Like Us’ is defamatory. It is not,” lawyers for UMG said.
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However, Drake’s attorney, Michael J. Gottlieb, described UMG’s response as an attempt to distract from the truth.
“UMG wants to pretend that this is about a rap battle in order to distract its shareholders, artists and the public from a simple truth: a greedy company is finally being held responsible for profiting from dangerous misinformation that has already resulted in multiple acts of violence.
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“This motion is a desperate ploy by UMG to avoid accountability, but we have every confidence that this case will proceed and continue to uncover UMG’s long history of endangering, abusing and taking advantage of its artists… Drake’s representative said in his statement.
Drake in a suit filed on Monday, November 25, 2024, claimed that UMG took part in an illegal “scheme” to inflate the popularity of Lamar’s hit song, which emerged out of the beef between himself and Lamar.
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Universal Music Group had maintained that streaming numbers for Not Like Us actually represented the numerous fans worldwide who chose to listen to the song over and over again.
“The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue…
“We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear,” the company said in a statement to Billboard at the time.
