Drake Recordsdata Federal Lawsuit In opposition to UMG Over ‘Not Like Us’; UMG Responds

UPDATE: UMG has launched a press release to disclaim the claims.

“Not solely are these claims unfaithful, however the notion that we might search to hurt the status of any artist—not to mention Drake—is illogical,” it begins. “We now have invested massively in his music and our workers world wide have labored tirelessly for a few years to assist him obtain historic business and private monetary success.”

The assertion says that the artist has “deliberately and efficiently used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to have interaction in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth ‘rap battles’ to specific his emotions about different artists” all through his profession, and that he now
“seeks to weaponize the authorized course of to silence an artist’s artistic expression and to hunt damages from UMG for distributing that artist’s music.”

“We now have not and don’t interact in defamation—in opposition to any particular person,” it continues. “On the similar time, we are going to vigorously defend this litigation to guard our individuals and our status, in addition to any artist who would possibly immediately or not directly turn into a frivolous litigation goal for having finished nothing greater than write a track.”

Earlier story:

Drake has filed a federal defamation lawsuit in opposition to Common Music Group.

Within the lawsuit, Drake accuses UMG of selling a “false and malicious narrative” about him by way of the content material of the lyrics, single paintings and music video for Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’. It additionally claims that the discharge and promotion of the track has resulted in “bodily risk to Drake’s security” in addition to “the bombardment of on-line harassment” and as such, “fears for the protection and safety of himself, his household and his pals”.

In accordance with the criticism, filed in a New York court docket as we speak, “this lawsuit isn’t concerning the artist who created Not Like Us. It’s as a substitute completely about UMG, the music firm that determined to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood weren’t solely false however harmful”.

“The recording cloaks cleverly harmful lyrics behind a catchy beat and welcoming hook. Capitalizing on these attributes, UMG used each device at its disposal to make sure that the world would hear that Drake “like ’em younger,’” that lawsuit reads.

The doc additionally features a image of a flyer that was put up within the rapper’s neighborhood calling him a predator, cites quite a few TikTok and YouTube posts that disparage him due to the track, and asserts that the musician needed to withdraw his youngster from faculty out of concern for his security.

This newest swimsuit follows information that the Canadian rap star withdrew a earlier submitting in opposition to UMG and streaming big Spotify, which accused the businesses of launching a marketing campaign that paid influencers, radio stations and others to advertise the track final summer season.

“UMG might spin this criticism as a rap beef gone authorized, however this lawsuit isn’t a couple of confrontation between artists. This lawsuit includes no claims in opposition to Kendrick Lamar or some other artist; as a substitute, it’s about UMG — the writer and unique rights holder of Lamar’s music, in addition to Drake’s — and its malicious determination to publish and promote” the monitor, the lawsuit reads.

“Not Like Us” has after all turn into a West Coast anthem, has been streamed a couple of billion instances worldwide (and counting) and is nominated for 5 awards heading into the 2025 Grammys subsequent month, together with Music and Report of the Yr. It was additionally probably the most on-demand streamed track within the U.S. in 2024.

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ was probably the most on-demand streamed track of 2024 within the U.S. (Luminate year-end report) pic.twitter.com/WlyM3Ykrhg

— Navjosh (@Navjosh) January 15, 2025

Drake is suing UMG for an undisclosed quantity in damages.