Drake has escalated his legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG), filing a defamation and harassment lawsuit against the world’s largest music company. The suit alleges UMG perpetuated a “false and malicious narrative” that Drake is a pedophile, spurred by Kendrick Lamar’s controversial diss track, “Not Like Us.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and obtained by Variety, places the blame squarely on Universal. According to Drake’s legal team, UMG “approved, published, and launched a campaign” to promote Lamar’s track despite knowing its lyrics and visuals were baseless and harmful.
A Hit Track and a Heated Feud
“Not Like Us” became one of 2024’s most successful songs, topping charts and earning five Grammy nominations. However, the song has also been at the center of a contentious feud between Drake and Lamar, intensifying public scrutiny of both artists. While Lamar’s lyrics are at the heart of the controversy, Drake’s lawsuit shifts the spotlight to Universal’s alleged role in exploiting the feud for profit.
“This lawsuit is not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us,’” the suit states. “It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false but dangerous.”
Dangerous Allegations and Fallout
The suit highlights the song’s music video and artwork, which Drake claims falsely connect him to criminal behavior. The cover art reportedly features a photo of Drake’s Toronto home marked with symbols associated with sex offenders. The lawsuit also ties the song’s release to a shooting incident at Drake’s residence that injured a security guard, followed by two other trespassing attempts.
Drake alleges UMG knowingly prioritized “corporate greed” over artist safety and well-being. He claims the company sought to devalue his profile ahead of contract renegotiations by amplifying the defamatory content.
Failed Private Resolution
Drake’s legal team, led by Michael J. Gottlieb of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, argues that the rapper initially attempted to resolve the issue privately with UMG. However, the company allegedly dismissed his concerns and implied that legal action would only result in public humiliation for Drake.
Universal’s Defense
UMG has yet to comment on this latest lawsuit, but it previously denied similar claims made by Drake in November 2024. “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,” the company said at the time.
Larger Implications
Drake’s lawsuit raises questions about corporate responsibility in the music industry, particularly regarding the balance between marketing strategies and ethical practices. With his current deal with Universal nearing its end, the stakes for both parties are high.
For now, the feud between Drake and Lamar—and the legal battles it has sparked—show no signs of cooling.
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