By Alice Redpill
Drake is taking a firm stand by suing Universal Music Group (UMG). The largest record label in the world, which also represents him. On Wednesday, the superstar rapper filed a federal lawsuit, directly accusing UMG of defamation and harassment for releasing and promoting Kendrick Lamar’s incendiary song “Not Like Us.” In this track, Lamar makes explosive allegations against Drake, accusing him of being a pedophile.
“Not Like Us” dropped last year amid a highly publicized feud between two mega-stars. Which has been marked by more than half a dozen increasingly bitter diss tracks. Over an energetic production by famed Los Angeles producer DJ Mustard, Lamar raps, “I hear you like ’em young,” while threatening Drake to “better not ever go to cell block one.” He further calls out Drake for what he perceives as a history of cultural appropriation, labeling him an “fucking colonizer.”
Following prior tracks where the two artists exchanged serious allegations of domestic violence and parental neglect, “Not Like Us” represents a significant escalation in their ongoing rivalry. The track has racked up over 1 billion streams on Spotify and has earned five Grammy Award nominations. Including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
In his lawsuit, Aubrey strongly asserts that UMG has jeopardized his safety by “approving, publishing, and launching a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track that falsely accuses Drake of being a pedophile and incites violent retribution against him.” He alleges that UMG, which has profited handsomely from his music over the years, “knew the salacious allegations against Drake were false” and chose corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists. The complaint highlights a disturbing incident at Drake’s home in Toronto.
A mansion depicted in the cover art of “Not Like Us” as having registered sex offenders. A security guard was shot and injured just days after the song’s release. Police said suspects in a vehicle shot the guard at the corner of the Park Lane Circle mansion on Tuesday before fleeing the scene. It remains unclear if Drake was at home when the incident occurred. Or whether he was a target of the shooting. Witnesses told Canadian media the security guard had sustained several gunshot wounds. Including one to the chest.
In response, a UMG spokesperson proclaimed, “Not only are these claims untrue, but the idea that we would harm the reputation of any artist, especially Drake, is absurd. We have made substantial investments in his music, and our global teams have dedicated themselves for years to help him achieve unprecedented commercial and personal success. Throughout his career, Drake has actively used UMG to distribute his music and engage in traditional rap battles to express his thoughts about other artists. Now, he aims to weaponize the legal process to suppress an artist’s creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for merely distributing that artist’s music.”
Drake’s lawsuit is filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Spearheaded by a legal team led by Michael J. Gottlieb. Gottlieb has previously gained notoriety for utilizing defamation law in high-profile cases involving figures like Rudy Giuliani, who falsely accused Georgia election workers of attempting to steal the 2020 presidential election. Gottlieb is also associated with the Pizzagate conspiracy theory. Drake’s complaint draws a striking parallel between the shooting at his home, which he claims to have alerted UMG about, and “the 2024 equivalent of ‘Pizzagate.’”
Drake’s lawsuit targets UMG, claiming the label’s promotion of “Not Like Us” involved fake streams and payola practices to undermine his music and brand as he renegotiates his contract. He alleges UMG is leveraging the situation to pressure him into a new deal as well.
The suit criticizes UMG for profiting from false and dangerous allegations while ignoring the impact on Drake, including threats to his safety, online harassment, and his brand’s declining value ahead of his contract renewal. Notably, UMG secured the performance of “Not Like Us” at the upcoming Super Bowl. Kendrick will then get to diss Drake on the biggest stage. Over 200 million viewers watched all or part of Super Bowl LVIII (last year). Setting a new record for the highest total audience in history. It’ll be interesting to see how Drake reacts to the performance.
UMG stands firm in denying the allegations. Confidently stating they do not engage in defamation and will vigorously defend their reputation. They assert Drake has used UMG to express himself creatively. But he’s now seeking to exploit legal avenues against them?
The feud between Drake and Lamar, which began more than a decade ago and escalated recently, highlights the tension between the two hip-hop giants. Drake’s lawyers argue that UMG is accountable for promoting harmful messages that threaten his safety, leading him to relocate his family. The lawsuit emphasizes the detrimental effects of prioritizing profit over artist safety.
What do you think? Is Drake just BIG mad because ‘Not Like Us’ did way better than ‘Family Matters’? Or do you think the song is really putting Aubrey/Drake at risk?
