Drake has taken his feud with Kendrick Lamar to federal courtroom.
The “One Dance” rapper, 38, filed a defamation lawsuit in Manhattan on Wednesday in opposition to Common Music Group — which reps each stars — for releasing Lamar’s diss observe “Not Like Us.”
Within the courtroom paperwork obtained by The Put up, Drake accused the report label of spreading the “false and malicious narrative” that he’s “a pedophile.”
The lawsuit states that on Might 4, 2024, the day “Not Like Us” got here out, “UMG approved, published, and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track that falsely accuses Drake of being a pedophile and calls for violent retribution against him.”
“Even though UMG enriched itself and its shareholders by exploiting Drake’s music for years, and knew that the salacious allegations against Drake were false, UMG chose corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists,” the go well with added.
Drake is signed to UMG subsidiary Republic Information, whereas Lamar, 37, is signed to UMG’s Interscope Information.
Within the courtroom docs, Drake claimed that Lamar’s diss observe — which is nominated for 5 Grammy Awards, together with Music of the Yr — conveyed the “false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal pedophile.”
Lamar isn’t named within the lawsuit.
The docs learn: “This lawsuit is not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us.’ It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false, but dangerous.”
The Put up has reached out to UMG and Lamar for remark.
In November 2024, Drake filed a pre-action petition in Manhattan in opposition to each UMG and Spotify, alleging they created a “scheme” to “artificially inflate” the streams of “Not Like Us.”
Drake’s attorneys stated the 2 corporations “deceived consumers” into considering Lamar’s observe was extra common than it was in actuality.
Nonetheless, it was reported on Tuesday that Drake withdrew the authorized petition in courtroom.
A UMG spokesperson beforehand informed The Put up, “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
The feud between the 2 rappers started in 2013, but it surely reached new heights final 12 months when Lamar claimed Drake had intercourse with underage girls in “Not Like Us” — which Drake later denied.
The previous “Degrassi: The Next Generation” actor then launched his personal diss observe, “The Heart Part 6,” the place he alleged that he and his staff planted pretend tales for Lamar to make use of in his music amid their drama.
“Not Like Us” achieved big success upon its launch. It broke a number of information on Spotify and marked Lamar’s fourth No. 1 track on the Billboard Scorching 100.
4 months after the track got here out, Lamar was introduced because the 2025 Tremendous Bowl halftime present headliner.
