Drake has escalated his legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG), filing a defamation lawsuit yesterday (January 15) that intensifies his accusations surrounding the promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” This legal action comes after Drake withdrew an earlier petition alleging UMG and Spotify had conspired to artificially boost the song’s performance.

In the newly filed complaint, originally posted by Music Business Worldwide, Drake claims UMG not only played a pivotal role in the song’s release but also deliberately crafted a “false and malicious narrative” that harmed his reputation. The lawsuit singles out the lyrics, artwork, and video for “Not Like Us,” asserting that UMG’s promotional campaign for the track led to “physical threats” against the Canadian rapper’s safety and subjected him to severe online harassment.

The legal document, filed in a New York court, states, “This lawsuit is not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us.’ It is instead entirely about UMG, the music company that chose to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize false and dangerous allegations.” Drake further argues that UMG prioritized profits over the well-being of its artists, allowing the track to fuel a public feud that resulted in real-world violence and threats.

In a statement from Drake’s legal team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, the artist’s lawyers asserted: “Drake filed a lawsuit against UMG to hold the company accountable for knowingly promoting defamatory allegations designed to assassinate his character.” The team further argues that UMG’s actions, including using its vast resources to amplify the track, directly contributed to actual violence outside of Drake’s home. “UMG wants the public to believe this is a battle between rappers. This lawsuit reveals the human and business costs of UMG’s reckless elevation of profits over the safety and security of its artists,” the statement reads.

The “One Dance” hitmaker’s original petition, filed in November 2024 and withdrawn this week, alleged that UMG orchestrated a “manipulative campaign” to make “Not Like Us” go viral, leveraging artificial methods such as bots and pay-for-play deals with Spotify. He claimed UMG provided the streaming platform with discounted licensing rates —  which is 30% lower than typical agreements — in exchange for Spotify’s active promotion of the song to users.

In response to those accusations, a Spotify spokesperson denied any wrongdoing, telling the press last month, “Spotify has no economic incentive for users to stream ‘Not Like Us’ over any of Drake’s tracks.” UMG, for its part, has previously dismissed Drake’s claims as “offensive and untrue.” A spokesperson for the company reaffirmed this stance in November, emphasizing the ethical standards it upholds in its marketing practices.

This ongoing legal battle centers on the high-stakes tension between Drake and Lamar, both of whom are signed to UMG labels — Drake through Republic Records and Lamar via Interscope. “Not Like Us,” released on May 4, 2024, was one of three diss tracks from Lamar aimed at Drake amid their public rap feud. The song quickly hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Lamar’s fourth career chart-topper and his second of 2024.

With both parties embroiled in litigation and tensions mounting, the case highlights the complex intersection of music, branding, and corporate influence, as Drake seeks to address what he contends is a malicious effort to tarnish his image.

Stay tuned to this space for more updates on this developing story.