Drake files a lawsuit regarding Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us

Drake Takes Legal Action Against Universal Music, Accuses Label of Boosting Kendrick Lamar’s Diss Track Streams

Drake has escalated his feud with Kendrick Lamar into the legal realm, filing a pre-action petition against Universal Music Group (UMG) over claims of artificially inflating streams for Lamar’s diss track, Not Like Us. Filed in New York by Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, the petition accuses Universal and Spotify of engaging in a deliberate scheme to manipulate streaming numbers using bots, payola, and other unethical methods to promote the track.

According to the filing, Universal’s actions were not incidental but part of a coordinated campaign to saturate streaming platforms and airwaves with Not Like Us. Drake’s lawyers allege that Universal slashed royalty rates for the song by 30% in exchange for Spotify prioritizing it in user recommendations. They also reference whistleblower claims that software bots were deployed to artificially inflate the track’s streaming numbers, reportedly costing $2,500 to set up.

The court filing highlights the track’s unprecedented success, achieving 96 million streams in just seven days, climbing to the top of the U.S. charts, and earning a top-10 position in radio airplay. However, Drake’s legal team argues that these accomplishments were largely manufactured, resulting in economic harm to him and his music.

“Streaming is a zero-sum game,” the filing states. “Every time a song breaks through, another artist is pushed aside. Universal’s manipulative tactics directly undermined Drake’s commercial success.”

Universal Fires Back

Universal Music has denied the allegations, calling them “offensive and untrue.” In a statement, a spokesperson said, “The suggestion that UMG would take actions to undermine its artists is absurd. Fans choose the music they want to hear, and our marketing practices adhere to the highest ethical standards.”

Spotify and Kendrick Lamar have yet to comment on the claims.

A Growing Rift Between Drake and Universal

The petition signals a deeper rift between Drake and Universal, the label that has represented him throughout his career. According to the filing, Drake attempted to resolve the matter privately, but Universal “refused to take responsibility for its misconduct” and made efforts to conceal its actions. This allegedly included terminating employees perceived to be loyal to Drake.

The BBC reports that the pre-action petition aims to secure relevant documents and data from Universal and Spotify, paving the way for a full lawsuit. Spotify is included in the filing as it may possess key information about the alleged manipulation.

Feud Escalates as Kendrick Lamar Gains Momentum

The legal dispute is the latest chapter in the rivalry between Drake and Lamar. Not Like Us was widely seen as a critical blow in their ongoing rap beef earlier this year. The track has since been nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, and Lamar is slated to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show.

Drake’s filing also accuses Universal of causing platform glitches, with fans who requested Certified Loverboy from Apple’s Siri being redirected to Not Like Us instead.

Despite Lamar’s recent acclaim, Drake remains the more globally popular artist, ranking 13th among Spotify’s most-streamed artists, compared to Lamar’s 23rd position.

What’s Next?

The legal filing underscores the high stakes in the competitive music industry, where streaming dominance can make or break an artist’s career. Drake’s team has not yet indicated when a full lawsuit may follow, but the pre-action petition ensures that evidence is preserved for potential future proceedings.

For now, the feud continues to dominate headlines, with fans and industry insiders closely watching how this legal battle unfolds. Will it expose larger issues in the music streaming world, or will Universal emerge unscathed from these allegations? Only time will tell.