Contrary to the report that Drake had withdrawn a legal petition against Universal Music Group and Spotify, accusing them of a scheme to artificially inflate Kendrick Lamars diss track, Not Like Us, the rapper has launched a full-blown defamation lawsuit against UMG.
According to a legal document filed today (January 15), Drake accuses UMG of promoting a false and malicious narrative about him via the content of the lyrics, single artwork and music video for Not Like Us.
He also claims that the release and promotion of the recording has resulted in physical threat to Drakes safety as well as the bombardment of online harassment and as such, fears for the safety and security of himself, his family and his friends.
According to the complaint, filed in a New York court today, this lawsuit is not about the artist who created Not Like Us. 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.
A statement issued by Drakes legal team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP reads: Drake filed a lawsuit against his label, Universal Music Group, to hold UMG accountable for knowingly promoting false and defamatory allegations against him.
Beginning on May 4, 2024 and every day since, UMG has used its massive resources as the worlds most powerful music company to elevate a dangerous and inflammatory message that was designed to assassinate Drakes character, and led to actual violence at Drakes doorstep.
UMG wants the public to believe that this is a fight between rappers, but this lawsuit is not brought against Kendrick Lamar. This lawsuit reveals the human and business consequences to UMGs elevation of profits over the safety and well-being of its artists, and shines a light on the manipulation of artists and the public for corporate gain.
The original petition, filed in November 2024 but withdrawn this week, alleged that UMG launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves with a song, Not Like Us, in order to make that song go viral, including by using bots and pay-to-play agreements.
The petition also claimed UMG charged Spotify licensing rates 30 percent lower than its usual licensing rates for Not Like Us in exchange for Spotify affirmatively recommending the Song to users who are searching for other unrelated songs and artists.
It continued to allege: UMG nor Spotify disclosed that Spotify had received compensation of any kind in exchange for recommending the Song.
Last month, in response to Drakes allegations about a 30% lower rate in exchange for recommendations, a Spotify spokesperson told MBW: Spotify has no economic incentive for users to stream Not Like Us over any of Drakes tracks.
A spokesperson for UMG told MBW in November: 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.
Both Drake and Lamar release their records via UMG and its Republic Records and Interscope, respectively. Not Like Us (Interscope), recorded by Lamar was released as part of a bitter rap feud with Drake on May 4, as part of a series of three diss tracks, all released within a few days of each other (the other tracks are Euphoria and Meet The Grahams).
The track reached No.1 on the Hot 100, marking Lamars fourth-ever US No.1, and his second that year, following Like That by Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar, which hit No.1 in April. The track also marked the first US No.1 for Not Like Us producer, Mustard.
•Courtesy: MBW