Drake has escalated his feud with Universal Music, filing a second legal action related to Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping hit Not Like Us. The rapper has accused the label of defamation, alleging it allowed the release of a song that “falsely accuses him of being a sex offender” despite having the power to stop it.
In legal papers, Drake’s lawyers claim Universal intentionally amplified the song’s reach, describing a calculated effort to make it “a viral mega-hit” by leveraging Lamar’s provocative lyrics to generate massive revenues. Universal, however, has dismissed these claims as “offensive and untrue,” insisting they adhere to the “highest ethical practices.”
Allegations of “Pay-to-Play” and Bots
Filed in Texas, the latest petition expands on earlier allegations that Universal used bots and influencers to inflate streaming numbers for Not Like Us. It also accuses the label of potentially making “covert payments” to radio giant iHeartRadio as part of a “pay-to-play” scheme, although Drake’s team admits they have yet to confirm these payments.
The filing seeks to compel Universal and iHeartRadio to preserve evidence for future legal action. Universal has strongly denied the allegations, stating, “Fans choose the music they want to hear.”
Accusations of Defamation
The legal documents reveal Drake’s deeper grievances with Universal, the label that has marketed and distributed his music throughout his career. According to his lawyers, the company knowingly released Not Like Us, which refers to him as a “certified paedophile” and a “predator” who should be “registered and placed on neighbourhood watch.”
The Feud’s Fallout
The song, widely regarded as a turning point in the decade-long feud between Drake and Lamar, debuted at number one on the U.S. charts and earned four Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year.
Drake responded with his track The Heart Part 6, in which he denied the accusations and claimed to have misled Lamar with false information through a double agent. However, Drake later deleted the track, adding further intrigue to the conflict.
Both artists are tied to Universal subsidiaries, with Drake’s OVO Music licensing through Republic and Lamar’s work handled by Interscope. As the legal battle unfolds, the dispute threatens to deepen the rift between two of hip-hop’s biggest stars.
