Drake has launched a high-stakes legal battle against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, accusing the industry giants of conspiring to artificially inflate the streams of Kendrick Lamar’s controversial diss track, “Not Like Us.”
In a bombshell petition filed with the New York Supreme Court on the 25th of November, 2024, attorneys for Frozen Moments LLC, Drake’s company, leveled damning allegations against UMG and Spotify.
The filing claims the two orchestrated an illegal operation involving bots, payola, and manipulative tactics to propel Lamar’s song to prominence while actively stifling Drake’s own music.
“UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices,” Drake’s lawyers argued.
“It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.”
According to the petition, “Not Like Us” amassed a staggering 96 million streams within its first week, skyrocketing to number one on the U.S. charts and securing a spot as a top 10 radio hit.
The filing further claims Spotify was granted licensing rights to the track at a 30% discount in exchange for heavy promotional support and user recommendations.
In a separate lawsuit filed in Texas, Drake has accused UMG of defamation.
The rapper asserts that UMG knowingly distributed “Not Like Us,” which allegedly included false and damaging accusations of pedophilia against him.
UMG has vehemently denied the claims, with a spokesperson calling them “offensive and untrue.”
“The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,” the spokesperson stated.
“We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
Recall that both Drake and Lamar have deep-rooted ties with UMG, with Drake aligned with Republic Records and Lamar signed to Interscope, two subsidiaries under the UMG umbrella.
However, this legal drama could mark a turning point in their professional relationships with the music conglomerate.