Drake Takes Legal Action Against Universal Over Kendrick Lamar’s Diss Track ‘Not Like Us’

In a continuing saga of legal disputes, Drake has once again filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group, this time in Texas. This filing is a response to Kendrick Lamar’s recent diss track, “Not Like Us.”

This latest legal action comes just a day after Drake lodged a similar complaint in New York. In that initial filing, Drake accused UMG of artificially inflating the popularity of “Not Like Us” on Spotify and various other streaming platforms.

The escalating feud between these two hip-hop giants has drawn the parent company of their respective labels directly into the fray. Drake’s court complaint filed in Bexar County alleges that UMG resorted to “irregular and inappropriate business practices” to secure radio play for “Not Like Us.” The complaint claims this included making illicit payments to iHeartMedia, based in San Antonio, Texas. As a precursor to a potential lawsuit, the petition seeks depositions from corporate officials at both UMG and iHeartMedia.

In his Texas filing, Drake accuses UMG of knowingly allowing “Not Like Us” to include derogatory references about him. The track purportedly labels him as a “certified pedophile” and a “predator,” suggesting he should be registered on a neighborhood watch list. These accusations, which imply serious criminal behavior, form a key part of Drake’s argument and provide grounds for a potential defamation lawsuit against UMG.

A representative from UMG has not yet given comments regarding the recent Texas filing. However, in response to the New York lawsuit announced previously, the company defended its practices, labeling the claim that they would undermine any of their artists as “offensive and untrue.” UMG asserted that they employ the highest standards of ethics in their marketing and promotional efforts.

Additionally, the New York complaint mentioned that UMG allegedly terminated employees who were loyal to Drake in an effort to hide its purported schemes, further intensifying the legal battle.

This sequence of legal actions marks a significant and possibly unprecedented escalation in the rivalry between these leading figures in hip-hop. Notably, Drake, a 38-year-old Canadian rap artist and five-time Grammy winner, alongside Lamar, a 37-year-old Pulitzer Prize recipient and newly announced Super Bowl halftime headliner, had collaborated sporadically over the past decade. However, tensions began to surface publicly when Lamar started taking shots at Drake back in 2013, and the conflict has heightened sharply in recent months.

The track “Not Like Us,” released in May, has been highlighted as a particularly harsh entry in the ongoing competition between the two artists, showcasing an aggressive exchange of bars that has captured significant public attention.