Drake has turned the tables in the ongoing legal saga with Universal Music Group (UMG) and Kendrick Lamar’s controversial track “Not Like Us.” Just when the music industry thought the Canadian rap superstar was taking a breather, he’s back with a vengeance, filing a new federal lawsuit that’s sure to raise eyebrows and a few smirks.
On Wednesday, Drizzy, took to federal court to accuse UMG of defamation and harassment. Drake claims that the release and marketing of “Not Like Us” is a textbook case of corporate greed trumping the safety and well-being of artists.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges that UMG conspired to create a viral sensation out of a track that supposedly paints Drake as a “criminal pedophile.” Yes, you read that correctly. To make matters worse, the song’s cover art, which features a photo of Drake’s Toronto abode with markers indicating nearby registered sex offenders, is described by Drake’s legal team as “the 2024 equivalent of ‘Pizzagate.’”
Of course there’s more! With the unfortunate shooting incident that occurred outside Drake’s home shortly after the song dropped, injuring a security guard, Drake’s legal eagle, Michael J. Gottlieb, who has a knack for handling high-profile cases (think pizzerias and election conspiracies), claims that UMG’s actions incited a frenzy akin to vigilante justice.
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Interestingly, Drake isn’t pointing fingers at Kendrick Lamar directly. He’s not saying, “You did this to me!” Instead, he’s taking aim at UMG, declaring, “This lawsuit is not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us.’ It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize” the song while being fully aware of its inflammatory content.
This legal kerfuffle follows Drake’s previous attempts to address the issue in state courts, where he had alleged that UMG, Spotify, and even iHeartMedia were involved in a grand scheme to boost “Not Like Us” using bots and payola. But it seems the drama escalated quickly, leading to the withdrawal of earlier state filings in favor of this more serious federal suit. Sometimes, a little more firepower is necessary to get your point across.
A UMG spokesperson previously released a statement saying: “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue.” They continued to assert their commitment to ethical marketing practices, saying no amount of “contrived and absurd legal arguments” could change the fact that fans have the ultimate say in what music they consume. Who knew music labels could be so philosophical?
Clearly, Drake isn’t going down without a fight and it’s safe to say that the drama in the world of hip-hop is far from over. Whew!
