Universal Music Group Responds to Drake’s Lawsuit, Calling It ‘Illogical’
Universal Music Group has responded to Drake’s lawsuit against the record label for its release and promotion of rapper Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” In a statement, the company dismissed the rapper’s case as lacking merit.
In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday in federal court, Drake accused the music company of spreading a “false and malicious narrative” last year by allowing the song, which painted Drake as a pedophile, to be published.
Last year, Drake and Lamar verbally sparred back and forth through a series of rap songs. Drake accused Lamar of domestic violence in his song “Family Matters” and also implied that producer David Free was the father of one of Lamar’s children. Lamar responded by releasing “Not Like Us,” in which he called Drake and others close to him “certified pedophiles” who should be “registered and placed on neighborhood watch.”
Responding to the lawsuit, Universal Music Group (UMG) stated, “Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist—let alone Drake—is illogical.”
For over ten years, UMG has served as Drake’s label. In a statement, UMG accused Drake of attempting to “silence” Lamar by escalating their rap battle into a legal dispute.
“Throughout his career, Drake has intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth’ rap battles’ to express his feelings about other artists. He now seeks to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist’s creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for distributing that artist’s music.”
In addressing allegations that UMG intentionally jeopardized Drake’s career, the label emphasized its significant financial investment in his music, which has contributed to his remarkable commercial and personal financial success. The statement also asserted that the company does not engage in defamation “against any individual.”
The suit argues that “by devaluing Drake’s music and brand, UMG would gain leverage to force Drake to sign a new deal on terms more favorable to UMG.”
Drake stated in court filings that UMG “continued to fan the flames” of the controversy for financial gain while knowing that Lamar’s lyrics were false. The artist alleges that the label “approved, published, and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of the rap track” and implied that a shooting at his Toronto mansion last May was directly connected to the company’s actions.
Drake’s legal team asserts that UMG’s actions were “intended to convey the specific, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal pedophile and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response.”
Following the incident at his residence, Drake contacted UMG to discuss the ramifications of the song’s release, which included the difficult decision to remove his young son from elementary school due to safety concerns. However, the suit alleges that he was told that he “would face humiliation if he brought legal action.”
Drake primarily filed the case “to hold UMG accountable for knowingly promoting false and defamatory allegations against him,” according to a statement from his attorneys. They disagreed that the dispute was just “a fight between rappers.”
“Beginning on May 4, 2024, and every day since, UMG has used its massive resources as the world’s most powerful music company to elevate a dangerous and inflammatory message that was designed to assassinate Drake’s character and led to actual violence at Drake’s doorstep. This lawsuit reveals the human and business consequences to UMG’s elevation of profits over the safety and well-being of its artists and shines a light on the manipulation of artists and the public for corporate gain.”
According to the documents, Lamar and his lyrics are not the target of the lawsuit. Instead, Drake argues that UMG prioritized “corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists.”
“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.”
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.
