Kaylah Walton
Drake has intensified his ongoing rivalry with Kendrick Lamar by taking legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) for defamation.
The 38-year-old rapper initiated the lawsuit in a Manhattan federal court, accusing the music company of facilitating the release and promotion of Lamar‘s diss track, Not Like Us, which Drake claims makes false accusations of pedophilia against him.
The legal filings describe the track, released on May 4, 2024, as part of UMG’s strategy to create a viral success.
Reported by the New York Post, the lawsuit claims UMG “approved, published, and initiated a campaign to launch a rap track that falsely brands Drake as a pedophile and incites violence against him.”
Drake’s focus in the lawsuit is directed at UMG’s involvement rather than Lamar, indicating the legal action targets the label itself.
Furthermore, the lawsuit asserts, “This case is not aimed at the artist behind Not Like Us. It solely addresses UMG… which chose to publish, promote, exploit, and profit from allegations that it recognized as not only false but also harmful.”
UMG, representing both Drake and Lamar, issued a strong rebuttal to the claims.
A spokesperson stated, “The notion that UMG would act against any of its artists is both insulting and unfounded. We adhere to the highest ethical standards in our marketing efforts.”
Lamar‘s Not Like Us has seen great commercial success, receiving five Grammy nominations, including for Song of the Year. Nonetheless, Drake asserts that the song’s claims have damaged his public image.
The diss track prompted Drake to respond with his own diss track, The Heart Part 6, in which he accuses Lamar of fabricating stories to escalate their feud.
Legal Implications and Industry Significance
This isn’t the first time Drake has pursued legal measures related to Not Like Us. In late 2024, he filed a pre-action petition against UMG and Spotify, alleging that they inflated streaming numbers to enhance the track’s success.
That petition was later retracted. In his current lawsuit, Drake seeks to hold UMG accountable for what he describes as “irresponsible actions” in promoting damaging accusations.
The escalating feud between Drake and Lamar, which started in 2013, reached a critical point with the release of Not Like Us.
While the track solidified Lamar‘s commercial status—breaking Spotify records and leading to his headline performance at the 2025 Super Bowl—it also drew significant backlash.
Drake’s legal action highlights wider concerns about the responsibility of music labels in mediating disputes between their artists.
As the case continues, it prompts a dialogue about the ethical duties of record labels when dealing with contentious material and the limits of artistic expression in music.
With both artists prominent in the music industry, the outcome of this legal battle could have significant repercussions for the relationships between artists and their labels.
