Drake has escalated his legal battle against Universal Music Group (UMG) by filing a second petition in Texas, following an initial filing in New York. Both actions center around Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us," which Drake claims contains defamatory content.
The Texas petition alleges that UMG engaged in "irregular and inappropriate business practices" to promote "Not Like Us" on radio stations. Specifically, Drake's legal team accuses UMG of funneling payments to iHeartMedia as part of a "pay-to-play scheme" to boost the song's airplay. Drake's lawyers argue that UMG was aware of the track's content, which allegedly falsely accuses Drake of being a "sex offender" and a "certified pedophile." They claim UMG could have prevented the song's release or required edits but instead chose to promote it aggressively.
The New York petition, filed a day earlier, accuses UMG and Spotify of artificially inflating the popularity of "Not Like Us" on streaming platforms4. Drake's team suggests that UMG designed and executed a plan to turn the song into a "viral mega-hit" at the expense of Drake's reputation. These legal actions are not full-fledged lawsuits but pre-action petitions seeking depositions from UMG and iHeartMedia executives. Drake's lawyers claim they already have sufficient evidence for defamation charges but are seeking additional information to potentially pursue claims of civil fraud and racketeering.
The conflict highlights a growing rift between Drake and UMG, the label he has been associated with throughout his career. Notably, Kendrick Lamar is not named as a defendant in either petition24. UMG has responded to the allegations, calling them "offensive and untrue." The company states that they employ ethical practices in their marketing campaigns and that fan choice ultimately determines a song's success.
This legal battle represents an unprecedented escalation of a hip-hop feud, with the parent company of both artists' labels now directly involved. The situation is further complicated by the fact that "Not Like Us" has become a cultural phenomenon, achieving significant chart success and garnering Grammy nominations.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the music industry watches closely, recognizing the potential implications for artist-label relationships and the broader landscape of music promotion and distribution4.
