Drake Sues Kendrick Lamar: Drake, one of the most prominent figures in modern rap, has taken legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) for their role in releasing Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us. According to Drake, the song falsely accuses him of pedophilia. He thinks UMG is behind it despite their knowledge of the claims’ falsity. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, argues that UMG deliberately pushed the track to achieve viral success, causing serious harm to Drake’s reputation.
Drake Sues Kendrick Lamar
In the legal documents, Drake makes it clear that his case isn’t against Lamar himself. It’s against UMG’s alleged promotion and monetization of the defamatory content. “This lawsuit is not about the artist who created Not Like Us,” the filing states. “It is entirely about UMG… that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false but dangerous.” UMG has responded firmly, calling Drake’s claims “offensive and untrue” and asserting that they maintain the highest ethical standards in their marketing practices.
Fallout From a Long-Running Rivalry
Drake and Lamar have been at odds since 2013, but Not Like Us escalated the feud to new heights. The track, which launched in May 2024, went on to earn Grammy nominations and massive commercial success. However, Drake claims the song’s lyrics were not only defamatory but also fostered public outrage, damaging his career. In response, Drake released his own diss track, The Heart Part 6. He accused Lamar of fabricating stories to fuel the rivalry.
Implications for the Music Industry
Beyond personal grievances, this lawsuit raises important questions about the role of record labels in managing disputes between artists. Drake’s action suggests a need for clearer guidelines on how labels handle contentious material and the extent of their responsibility in preventing reputational harm. As the case unfolds, the outcome could set significant precedents for the ethical boundaries of creative expression and the obligations of music labels toward their artists.
