Drake Takes Legal Action Over Kendrick Lamar’s Diss Track
Drake Takes Legal Action Against Universal Music Group, Claims Defamation Over Kendrick Lamar’s Diss Track
Drake Takes Legal Action Against Universal Music Group, Claims Defamation Over Kendrick Lamar’s Diss Track
Source: Daniel LEAL / AFP / Daniel LEAL / AFP
In an escalating legal battle with his own label, Drake has filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the company of spreading harmful and false claims about him.
The Canadian rapper and artist claims that UMG promoted a Kendrick Lamar diss track titled “Not Like Us”, which he alleges falsely portrayed him as a pedophile, causing significant damage to his reputation.
In the suit, which was filed in a federal court in New York City on Wednesday, Drake argues that UMG was well aware of the false and dangerous nature of the lyrics and imagery in the track and intentionally allowed them to be spread.
According to Drake’s legal team, the track — known for its inflammatory allegations — was used strategically by the label to tarnish his public image while boosting Kendrick Lamar’s sales and visibility.
Drake’s lawsuit focuses on the financial motive behind UMG’s actions.
He claims the label intentionally fueled the controversy to devalue his music and brand, creating leverage in upcoming contract negotiations.
It’s worth noting that Drake’s current deal with UMG, signed in 2022, is believed to be worth around $400 million.
“Not Like Us” became a major hit, and according to the lawsuit, UMG took measures to ensure its success — including using bots to artificially inflate its streaming numbers by over 30 million and engaging in pay-for-play schemes with radio promoters.
Drake contends that the label pushed the song’s narrative because of the commercial benefits it generated, regardless of the harm it caused to his personal and professional life.
Source: Joseph Okpako / Getty
Drake’s lawyers further allege that UMG even sought to use the track’s controversy to boost Kendrick’s profile, including an attempt to land him the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2025.
The lawsuit hints that the performance was another calculated move by UMG to capitalize on the song’s shock value, potentially allowing it to be performed on one of the world’s biggest stages.
While Kendrick Lamar is the artist behind the controversial track, Drake is not suing him directly.
The lawsuit specifically targets UMG, which Drake says is responsible for publishing, promoting, and profiting from the song’s defamatory content. “
This lawsuit is not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us,’” Drake states in the filing. “It is entirely about UMG, the company that chose to exploit and monetize these false claims.”
Source: MTV
Drake’s legal filing also mentions how the backlash from the track has impacted his personal safety. Since the release of the song, there have been multiple shootings near his Toronto mansion, one of which resulted in a security guard being injured.
These incidents, he claims, are a direct result of the false narrative UMG allowed to spread.
Despite some public speculation that Drake was backing down from the legal fight after withdrawing a separate lawsuit against UMG and Spotify in New York state court, sources close to the artist confirm that this move was merely to clear the way for his federal lawsuit, which is seen as a more direct and aggressive approach to the matter.
As the case unfolds, it is clear that Drake intends to hold Universal Music Group accountable for what he claims is a malicious attempt to harm his reputation for financial gain.
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