Drake Sues Universal Music Group

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Drake has filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), alleging defamation due to Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us.” He claims the track falsely labels him as a pedophile, endangering him and his family.

In the complaint submitted in Manhattan federal court, Drake describes the song as intending to convey a clear and false allegation of him being a “criminal pedophile.” He argues that this has provoked public calls for “vigilante justice” against him.

Drake asserts the song led to attempted break-ins at his home, resulting in him hiring additional security and pulling his seven-year-old son from school in Toronto.

The lawsuit cites a feud lasting about a decade between Drake and Lamar, an acclaimed rapper who won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Drake is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for defamation and harassment.

Drake’s claim notes, “UMG may spin this complaint as a rap beef gone legal, but this lawsuit is not about a war of words between artists.” He further states that UMG has intentionally aimed to tarnish his reputation for corporate gain, stating, “UMG chose corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists.”

In response, UMG dismissed the defamation claims as false and illogical, emphasizing their investment in Drake’s success. They accused Drake of attempting to manipulate the legal system and silence Lamar’s creative expression.

Lamar is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, despite Drake’s claims regarding “Not Like Us.”

Competing ‘Diss’ Tracks

This lawsuit follows a previous petition in New York where Drake, through his company Frozen Moments, accused UMG and Spotify of employing payola and streaming bots to promote “Not Like Us” to his detriment. He withdrew that petition just before this lawsuit.

The ongoing rivalry between Drake and Lamar has been highlighted in diss tracks including “Not Like Us,” where Lamar directly mentions Drake and makes insinuations about his character. In response, Drake’s song “Family Matters” seemingly accuses Lamar of physical abuse and infidelity.

“Not Like Us” reached the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 for two weeks and received five Grammy nominations, including record of the year.

The case is filed under Graham v UMG Recordings Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 25-00399.