In a surprising turn of events, Drake has taken unprecedented legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar's Grammy-nominated diss track 'Not Like Us'. This marks the second consecutive day the Canadian artist has pursued legal avenues, this time in Texas, alleging defamation and other claims against UMG.
The move follows a similar filing in New York earlier this week, where Drake accused UMG of artificially inflating streams and falsely enhancing the popularity of 'Not Like Us' on Spotify and other platforms. UMG has vehemently denied these allegations, stating that any suggestion of undermining their artists is both offensive and untrue.
The latest filing in Bexar County accuses UMG of engaging in irregular and inappropriate business practices to secure radio airplay for 'Not Like Us', including illegal payments to San Antonio-based iHeartMedia. The petition, which serves as a precursor to a potential lawsuit, seeks depositions from corporate representatives of both companies.
Drake's legal team alleges that UMG was aware that 'Not Like Us' attacked Drake's character by falsely accusing him of being a sex offender, engaging in pedophilic acts, and committing other criminal sexual acts. The song, which has garnered over 900 million plays on Spotify, was nominated for five 2025 Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Drake, however, was not nominated for any Grammys this year. The back-to-back legal actions this week signify a significant escalation in the hip-hop feud between the two artists, especially given that UMG represents both. Drake's credibility has taken a hit, with fans mocking him online and questioning the timing of these lawsuits, particularly as Kendrick Lamar has just released a new album.
As of now, UMG and Kendrick Lamar have yet to respond to the latest filing.
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