Drake has opted to withdraw a legal case he filed against Universal Music and Spotify that accused the companies of inflating streaming numbers for Kendrick Lamar's controversial track "Not Like Us." His decision comes after discussions with representatives from both organizations and amid ongoing tensions with Lamar.
Drake Withdraws Legal Challenge Against Kendrick Lamar’s 'Not Like Us' Amid Ongoing Feud
Drake Withdraws Legal Challenge Against Kendrick Lamar’s 'Not Like Us' Amid Ongoing Feud
The Canadian superstar has ended his legal battle against Universal Music and Spotify regarding Kendrick Lamar's diss track, signaling a potential shift in the longstanding rivalry.
In a notable turn of events, Drake has formally scrapped his legal action against Universal Music and Spotify concerning Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us." The Canadian artist initially took legal steps in November, alleging that the two companies conspired to manipulate streaming data using bots and other unethical means to promote Lamar's song, which contains damaging allegations against him. The court filings claimed that the swift rise of "Not Like Us" was engineered through questionable promotional practices.
However, on Tuesday, Drake's legal team withdrew a pre-action filing, effectively concluding this phase of the dispute. Following a meeting with Spotify and Universal, where both parties were reportedly open to the withdrawal, the case came to an amicable end. Universal Music neither opposed nor supported the withdrawal and opted to reserve its position.
Despite the withdrawal of this case, a related legal action against Universal Music and iHeartRadio remains active in Texas. The feud between the two artists has been a focal point in the hip-hop world, with "Not Like Us" often cited as a decisive moment in their rivalry, which has roots dating back to the early 2010s. The track contains lyrics that accuse Drake of inappropriate behavior, triggering the need for a response from the rapper.
In his rebuttal track "The Heart Part 6," released shortly after the diss, Drake refuted Lamar's claims, asserting that he has never engaged in illicit relationships and alleging that he misled Lamar through a double agent. Despite this response, it failed to garner the same level of attention as "Not Like Us," which debuted at No. 1 on the US charts and surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.
Lamar's track has continued to receive accolades, securing four Grammy nominations, while Drake's legal claims drew skepticism from industry experts. Observers noted that his legal maneuvers might be a strategy to extract information from Universal that could help him negotiate his contract. Entertainment legal analysts have speculated that the publicity surrounding this legal action could inadvertently enhance the prominence of "Not Like Us," counteracting Drake's intent to quiet its narrative.
As the music industry watches closely, the conclusion of this chapter leaves both artists at crossroads — one grappling with the aftermath of public accusations, and the other poised at the peak of commercial and critical success in the realm of hip-hop.
However, on Tuesday, Drake's legal team withdrew a pre-action filing, effectively concluding this phase of the dispute. Following a meeting with Spotify and Universal, where both parties were reportedly open to the withdrawal, the case came to an amicable end. Universal Music neither opposed nor supported the withdrawal and opted to reserve its position.
Despite the withdrawal of this case, a related legal action against Universal Music and iHeartRadio remains active in Texas. The feud between the two artists has been a focal point in the hip-hop world, with "Not Like Us" often cited as a decisive moment in their rivalry, which has roots dating back to the early 2010s. The track contains lyrics that accuse Drake of inappropriate behavior, triggering the need for a response from the rapper.
In his rebuttal track "The Heart Part 6," released shortly after the diss, Drake refuted Lamar's claims, asserting that he has never engaged in illicit relationships and alleging that he misled Lamar through a double agent. Despite this response, it failed to garner the same level of attention as "Not Like Us," which debuted at No. 1 on the US charts and surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.
Lamar's track has continued to receive accolades, securing four Grammy nominations, while Drake's legal claims drew skepticism from industry experts. Observers noted that his legal maneuvers might be a strategy to extract information from Universal that could help him negotiate his contract. Entertainment legal analysts have speculated that the publicity surrounding this legal action could inadvertently enhance the prominence of "Not Like Us," counteracting Drake's intent to quiet its narrative.
As the music industry watches closely, the conclusion of this chapter leaves both artists at crossroads — one grappling with the aftermath of public accusations, and the other poised at the peak of commercial and critical success in the realm of hip-hop.
