Universal Music Group Recordings Inc. has moved to dismiss Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the label for releasing Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us.” In January, Drake, who is signed to UMG, claimed the label promoted a “false and malicious” narrative labeling him a pedophile through Lamar’s track, which includes the line, “Say, Drake, I hear you like em’ young.” Drake argued UMG prioritized profits over artists’ well-being despite knowing the claims were untrue.
In a filing obtained by The Independent, UMG called Drake’s lawsuit a “misguided attempt to salve his wounds” and urged the court to dismiss it without prejudice. The motion, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, describes Drake’s loss in a heated rap battle he initiated with Lamar in spring 2024. UMG noted that the two artists exchanged nine diss tracks over two months, with Drake encouraging the feud, including releasing a track to provoke Lamar. The label highlighted that commentators deemed Lamar the winner.
UMG’s filing points out that Drake used its platform to make serious accusations against Lamar, such as alleging domestic abuse in “Family Matters.” The label argues that Drake’s focus on “Not Like Us” as defamatory ignores the broader context of their diss track exchanges and the genre’s conventions.
Drake’s attorney, Mike Gottlieb, responded to The Independent, labeling UMG’s motion a “desperate ploy to avoid accountability” for profiting from harmful misinformation linked to violence. He expressed confidence that the case would move forward, exposing UMG’s alleged mistreatment of artists.
Previously, Drake settled a lawsuit against iHeartMedia, accusing it of accepting illegal payments from UMG to promote “Not Like Us” on radio. He also dropped a related suit against UMG, which claimed the label used bots and a pay-to-play scheme to artificially boost the song’s presence. UMG denied these allegations, insisting it employs ethical marketing practices and that fans drive music popularity.
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