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Drake has filed a federal defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the label of spreading false and damaging allegations against him. The lawsuit stems from the release and promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, "Not Like Us," which features lyrics and visuals that falsely label Drake as a pedophile. Filed in New York federal court, the suit claims that UMG knowingly allowed the song’s defamatory content to be used for financial gain.
Drake's legal team argues that UMG prioritized profit over the safety and well-being of its artists. The lawsuit states that the label knew the accusations in the song were false but pushed it to the forefront, exploiting it as a “gold mine” for monetary success. Drake emphasizes that UMG’s actions were part of a broader strategy to devalue his music and brand, particularly ahead of future contract negotiations, following his $400 million deal with the company in 2022.
The lawsuit further reveals that UMG was involved in artificially inflating the song’s popularity. Drake accuses the label of paying third parties to use bots to boost the song’s streaming numbers by at least 30 million and engaging in “pay-for-play” tactics with radio promoters. Despite knowing the song's defamatory nature, UMG labeled "Not Like Us" a chart-topper based on manipulated data, according toDrake.
Although the song was created by Kendrick Lamar, Drake’s lawsuit focuses squarely on UMG’s role in promoting and monetizing the song’s harmful content. "This lawsuit is not about the artist who created 'Not Like Us,'" Drake’s complaint reads. "It is about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize dangerous, false allegations." He claims that the song's false portrayal has led to harassment and real-world dangers, including multiple shootings near his Toronto mansion, one of which left a security guard injured.
Drake also highlights that UMG’s promotion of the track included controversial artwork, featuring an image of his house with markers for registered sex offenders. The lawsuit ties the public backlash to the violence that followed the song’s release, including trespassing attempts at his residence.
Drake’s move comes after he withdrew an earlier legal challenge related to inflated streaming numbers. While the dispute rages on, Drake’s lawsuit challenges UMG’s practices and seeks accountability for the damage caused by the defamatory track.
