Drake Files Lawsuit • Hollywood Unlocked

According to Billboard, Drake has taken legal steps against Universal Music Group and Spotify, claiming that the companies worked together to artificially boost the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us.” 

In a court filing made on November 25 in Manhattan, Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC alleged that UMG orchestrated a “scheme” utilizing bots, payola, and various tactics to make Lamar’s track go viral all across the internet. “UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices,” lawyers for Drake’s company wrote in the filing. “It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.”

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Drake’s legal team has charged Universal Music Group with breaching the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly known as the federal “RICO” law that is typically applied in cases involving organized crime. Additionally, they have claimed that UMG engaged in misleading business practices and false advertising in violation of New York state regulations.

The court filings mark a surprising turn in the ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, who have been trading sharp diss tracks over the past few months. It’s unusual for a disagreement like this to lead to legal action in the hip-hop world.

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This situation also highlights a significant divide between Drake and Universal Music Group (UMG), where he has spent his entire career. He started with Lil Wayne’s Young Money label, which was distributed by Republic Records, and later signed directly with Republic.

Similarly, Kendrick has also been with UMG throughout his career, initially with the TDE label, distributed by Interscope, and more recently through his own company, pgLang, which he licenses via Interscope.

The filing made on Monday isn’t a full lawsuit yet; it’s a “pre-action” petition under New York law, which seeks information before a formal lawsuit is filed. Spotify declined to comment, and UMG has not yet responded to requests for comment.