In brief
In recent developments, Drake filed two legal actions against Universal Music, particularly targeting Kendrick Lamar's track "Not Like Us," which he claims falsely labels him a sex offender.
Drake has taken significant legal steps against Universal Music, accusing the label of defamation linked to Lamar's song "Not Like Us." He asserts that the company had opportunities to prevent the release, yet chose to promote it, resulting in viral success while falsely alleging his involvement as a sex offender. This move follows an earlier filing in New York, where Drake accused Universal of artificially inflating the track's streaming metrics on Spotify. Universal has refuted these accusations, branding them “offensive and untrue,” emphasizing their adherence to ethical marketing standards. Drake's new petition, categorized as a "pre-action petition," aims to preserve relevant records that could lead to future litigation, citing potential illicit payments made to iHeartRadio for the song's promotion. The rapper claims that "Not Like Us" received immense radio play, alleging that Universal manipulated streaming figures and social media outreach through dubious means. The ongoing feud between the two prominent hip-hop artists has significantly impacted their careers and raises broader questions about the ethics of music promotion in today’s industry.
