Rap superstar Drake is suing Universal Music Group (UMG) for defamation and harassment over its release of the Kendrick Lamar diss track "Not Like Us" last year.
The lawsuit, filed in New York, accuses the record label of spreading false allegations that Drake is a criminal paedophile, suggesting vigilante justice against him. This move by Drake's lawyers follows a legal action withdrawal against UMG and Spotify for artificially boosting streams of "Not Like Us" at his expense.
Universal denies undermining artists and Spotify asserts no incentive to favor the diss track over Drake's music. Following a meeting with both companies, Drake withdrew the case. An unexpected turn occurred with a new lawsuit accusing Universal of prioritizing corporate greed over artist safety.
The lawsuit connects the artwork of "Not Like Us," featuring Drake's mansion with sex offender markers, to a shooting at the property. The song intensified a feud with Lamar since the early 2010s, with allegations of Drake's involvement with minors. The controversy culminated in Grammy nominations and the Super Bowl halftime show for Lamar.
However, the lawsuit's focus is on UMG's decision to publish and monetize dangerous and false allegations, rather than on Lamar himself.