Drake's decision to end legal action comes amidst a complicated rivalry with Kendrick Lamar, centering on allegations of manipulation in music streaming metrics and accusations within Lamar's track.
Drake Ends Legal Feud Over Kendrick Lamar's Controversial Track
Drake Ends Legal Feud Over Kendrick Lamar's Controversial Track
Canadian rapper Drake withdraws legal claims against Universal Music and Spotify regarding Kendrick Lamar's diss track, concluding a high-profile dispute.
In a significant turn of events, Canadian rapper Drake has opted to terminate his legal action against Universal Music and Spotify concerning Kendrick Lamar's diss track, "Not Like Us." The legal maneuvering had begun last November when Drake accused the companies of colluding to artificially inflate the streaming numbers of Lamar's track, which contained severe allegations against him, including accusations of paedophilia.
Drake's claims suggested that Universal Music employed questionable tactics, such as payola and the use of bots, to bolster the song's performance on streaming platforms and radio. His court documents described the rapid rise of "Not Like Us" as the result of "irregular and inappropriate business practices." However, Drake's legal team voluntarily withdrew a pre-action petition on Tuesday, effectively halting the proceeding. In this filing, Drake sought access to internal documents from Spotify and Universal that could bolster his claims.
Reports indicate that Drake recently met with representatives from both Spotify and Universal Music to discuss the case. While Spotify opposed the allegations, they showed no objection to Drake's withdrawal. Universal Music, which has yet to make an official comment following the withdrawal, had previously denied any wrongdoing, stating that it operates under high ethical standards.
Drake's feud with Kendrick Lamar dates back over a decade, with "Not Like Us" viewed as a crucial escalation in their rivalry. In its lyrics, Lamar accused Drake of inappropriate behaviors, to which Drake responded with his track, "The Heart Part 6." Despite his rebuttals, the response failed to achieve the same impact as Lamar's track, which has garnered over a billion streams and multiple Grammy nominations.
Despite the legal case's dismissal, the underlying tensions in the industry continue to spark discussions. Some industry experts have expressed skepticism regarding the potential of the legal accusations to reach a courtroom, suggesting that Drake's intention might have been to extract information from Universal that could lead to a breach of contract case.
As insights on the media coverage surrounding the event unfold, some legal professionals argue that Drake’s actions could inadvertently amplify the very allegations he aimed to contest, potentially resulting in an increase of attention—and streams—for "Not Like Us."
Drake's claims suggested that Universal Music employed questionable tactics, such as payola and the use of bots, to bolster the song's performance on streaming platforms and radio. His court documents described the rapid rise of "Not Like Us" as the result of "irregular and inappropriate business practices." However, Drake's legal team voluntarily withdrew a pre-action petition on Tuesday, effectively halting the proceeding. In this filing, Drake sought access to internal documents from Spotify and Universal that could bolster his claims.
Reports indicate that Drake recently met with representatives from both Spotify and Universal Music to discuss the case. While Spotify opposed the allegations, they showed no objection to Drake's withdrawal. Universal Music, which has yet to make an official comment following the withdrawal, had previously denied any wrongdoing, stating that it operates under high ethical standards.
Drake's feud with Kendrick Lamar dates back over a decade, with "Not Like Us" viewed as a crucial escalation in their rivalry. In its lyrics, Lamar accused Drake of inappropriate behaviors, to which Drake responded with his track, "The Heart Part 6." Despite his rebuttals, the response failed to achieve the same impact as Lamar's track, which has garnered over a billion streams and multiple Grammy nominations.
Despite the legal case's dismissal, the underlying tensions in the industry continue to spark discussions. Some industry experts have expressed skepticism regarding the potential of the legal accusations to reach a courtroom, suggesting that Drake's intention might have been to extract information from Universal that could lead to a breach of contract case.
As insights on the media coverage surrounding the event unfold, some legal professionals argue that Drake’s actions could inadvertently amplify the very allegations he aimed to contest, potentially resulting in an increase of attention—and streams—for "Not Like Us."
