Drake seeks to preserve evidence against Universal Music after his claim that they benefitted from defamatory lyrics.
Drake Sues Universal Music Over 'Not Like Us' Defamation Claims
Drake Sues Universal Music Over 'Not Like Us' Defamation Claims
Legal action follows accusations of false sex offender allegations in Kendrick Lamar's song.
Drake has initiated a second round of legal action against Universal Music in connection with Kendrick Lamar's hit song "Not Like Us," which emerged amid the pair's public feud earlier this year. In his court filings, Drake alleges that the record label has engaged in defamation by allowing a song that falsely labels him a sex offender to be released widely. He accuses Universal Music of prioritizing profit over ethical considerations, stating that they executed a strategy to ensure the song became a "viral mega-hit" designed to incite consumer frenzy and generate substantial revenue.
Just a day prior, he had filed a separate complaint in New York, alleging that Universal illegally manipulated the song's visibility on Spotify to enhance its popularity. Universal has dismissed these allegations as "offensive and untrue," asserting that they uphold the highest ethical practices in marketing and distribution and that the choice of music lies with the fans.
The latest filing, classified as a "pre-action petition," does not constitute a formal lawsuit. Instead, it is a mechanism allowing Drake's legal team to request that the court mandate the preservation of pertinent documents and information before any official legal action is undertaken. This document was submitted in Texas and implicates iHeartRadio, a media giant operating over 850 radio stations across the United States. Drake's legal team suggests that "Not Like Us" garnered over 25 million listens on iHeart stations within four months of its launch. They have referenced a whistleblower who claims there may have been covert payments from Universal to iHeart, potentially forming a "pay-to-play scheme" for promotional purposes.
If the court grants the petition, both companies would be required to submit evidence related to Drake's accusations. In their previous filings, Drake's lawyers characterized Universal as having utilized "bots" to artificially boost streaming numbers for Lamar's song and paid social media influencers to promote it—a charge that Universal has consistently refuted.
The latest legal documents further detail Drake's long-standing grievances against Universal, his record label since the inception of his career. They assert that Universal was aware that Lamar's song falsely accused Drake of being a "certified paedophile" and a "predator," yet still chose to release it. The track is considered a pivotal moment in the ongoing rivalry between Drake and Lamar, who have exchanged lyrical barbs for over a decade.
"Not Like Us" debuted at number one on the US charts and has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year. In response to the track, Drake dropped "The Heart Part 6," which contained a denial of any allegations of sexual misconduct, even claiming he had fed Lamar "false" information through a misinformation channel; however, he ultimately deleted this track from his social media.
Both artists have distinct label arrangements, with Drake releasing music under his own OVO Music label but licensing it through Universal's subsidiary Republic for distribution, while Lamar follows a similar model under Universal's Interscope imprint.
Just a day prior, he had filed a separate complaint in New York, alleging that Universal illegally manipulated the song's visibility on Spotify to enhance its popularity. Universal has dismissed these allegations as "offensive and untrue," asserting that they uphold the highest ethical practices in marketing and distribution and that the choice of music lies with the fans.
The latest filing, classified as a "pre-action petition," does not constitute a formal lawsuit. Instead, it is a mechanism allowing Drake's legal team to request that the court mandate the preservation of pertinent documents and information before any official legal action is undertaken. This document was submitted in Texas and implicates iHeartRadio, a media giant operating over 850 radio stations across the United States. Drake's legal team suggests that "Not Like Us" garnered over 25 million listens on iHeart stations within four months of its launch. They have referenced a whistleblower who claims there may have been covert payments from Universal to iHeart, potentially forming a "pay-to-play scheme" for promotional purposes.
If the court grants the petition, both companies would be required to submit evidence related to Drake's accusations. In their previous filings, Drake's lawyers characterized Universal as having utilized "bots" to artificially boost streaming numbers for Lamar's song and paid social media influencers to promote it—a charge that Universal has consistently refuted.
The latest legal documents further detail Drake's long-standing grievances against Universal, his record label since the inception of his career. They assert that Universal was aware that Lamar's song falsely accused Drake of being a "certified paedophile" and a "predator," yet still chose to release it. The track is considered a pivotal moment in the ongoing rivalry between Drake and Lamar, who have exchanged lyrical barbs for over a decade.
"Not Like Us" debuted at number one on the US charts and has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year. In response to the track, Drake dropped "The Heart Part 6," which contained a denial of any allegations of sexual misconduct, even claiming he had fed Lamar "false" information through a misinformation channel; however, he ultimately deleted this track from his social media.
Both artists have distinct label arrangements, with Drake releasing music under his own OVO Music label but licensing it through Universal's subsidiary Republic for distribution, while Lamar follows a similar model under Universal's Interscope imprint.
