Drake Initiates Legal Proceedings Against Universal Music for Defamation

Drake's legal actions highlight escalating tensions in the music industry, as he accuses Universal Music of promoting Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" while falsely labeling him a sex offender, amid claims of unethical marketing tactics.

In a dramatic escalation of his ongoing dispute with Kendrick Lamar, Drake has initiated two separate legal proceedings against Universal Music, the label responsible for distributing Lamar's hit song "Not Like Us." In the latest filing, Drake accuses Universal of defamation, asserting that the company could have intervened to prevent the release of the song, which he contends falsely portrays him as a sex offender. His legal team alleges that Universal intentionally chose to leverage Kendrick's controversial lyrics to drive consumer interest and profit from the resulting "hysteria."

Just one day prior, Drake had submitted a pre-action petition in New York, alleging that Universal improperly manipulated Spotify's algorithms to give Lamar's track greater visibility. Universal has firmly rejected these allegations, dismissing them as "offensive and untrue" and asserting that their promotional practices adhere to high ethical standards. "Fans choose the music they want to hear," the label stated, reaffirming its commitment to transparency in marketing.

The current legal filing is not yet a lawsuit but allows Drake’s legal team to request that the court mandates the preservation of relevant documents and evidence. This action, filed in Texas, also implicates iHeartRadio, which, according to Drake's claims, aired "Not Like Us" over 25 million times in the four months post-release. Citing an anonymous whistleblower, Drake's lawyers suggest there might have been "covert payments" made to iHeartRadio as part of a scheme to unduly promote the song, though they admit they have yet to confirm any such payments.

In addition to these claims, Drake continues to assert that Universal inflated the streaming figures of Lamar's track through automated means and paid influencers to enhance its online presence. The recent court documents provide further insight into Drake's grievances against Universal, detailing how the rapper believes the company was aware that Lamar’s track inaccurately labelled him as a "certified paedophile" but chose to release it nonetheless.

"Not Like Us" has achieved significant success, debuting at the top of the US charts and earning four Grammy nominations, including song of the year. In response, Drake released "The Heart Part 6," disputing the allegations made against him and claiming to have fed Lamar misleading information through a middleman, although he later decided to remove this response from his social media platforms.

Both rappers maintain licensing agreements with Universal's various subsidiaries for their musical releases, highlighting the complex relationships within the music industry as personal feuds intertwine with corporate interests and marketing strategies.