UMG chief Lucian Grainge calls Drake’s ‘Not Like Us’ lawsuit ‘ridiculous’

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The CEO of Universal Music Group, Lucian Grainge, labeled Drake’s legal action against Kendrick Lamar’s popular diss track “Not Like Us” as a “ridiculous and unfounded” attempt.

In a letter submitted to the Southern District of New York on Thursday evening, Grainge contended that Drake’s claim that UMG, which oversees both Drake and Lamar, had defamed him and hurt his career was illogical. This is because Universal Music Group N.V., the company I manage, has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Drake over the years. This investment includes substantial financial backing for his music career, ownership of the majority of his record catalog, and purchase of his music publishing rights.

In 2022, Drake inked a massive $400 million contract with Universal Music Group’s label Republic, making him one of the top-selling musicians from the past two decades. However, his rivalry with Interscope artist Kendrick Lamar reached its peak when Lamar’s critically acclaimed “Not Like Us” fueled their feud. This confrontation culminated in a pair of Grammy awards for Lamar and a performance of the song during the Super Bowl halftime show.

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Could a performer like Compton’s rapper face potential legal action for defamation if he performs ‘Not Like Us’ during the Super Bowl halftime show, given its alleged content that some claim is defaming? To get a clearer understanding, we consulted with criminal defense attorney Ken White.

As a loyal advocate, I’ve been involved in efforts to acquire UMG’s contract with Lamar and details about his private life, given that Drake’s legal team is currently in the discovery phase. You see, there are allegations made by Drake against both UMG and Lamar. He claims they have defamed him in various ways, including fueling a covert campaign to promote “Not Like Us” at the cost of his reputation and career. This comes from the lyrics in Drake’s song “Family Matters,” where he accuses Lamar of abusing his partner.

In a rather frustrated tone, Grainge penned a letter to the court, stating that “Given my position, I’m used (and unfortunately, often resigned) to facing personal criticisms. Moreover, I understand that one common tactic of UMG’s adversaries in litigation is to request extensive discovery, such as what Drake is asking for here. This could be an attempt to generate media attention or to pressure us into renegotiating commercial terms or granting financial concessions.

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The initial performance during the Super Bowl half-time show, we hope will remain unique for being potentially damaging to another performer’s reputation, according to the complaint.

Moreover, Grainge clarified that he had no hands-on role in the release or advertising efforts for “Not Like Us.

He stated, “In my job duties, I oversee and am accountable for UMG’s worldwide businesses. However, the idea that I played a part in, let alone had responsibility for, reviewing, approving, or deciding on the content of ‘Not Like Us’, its cover art, or music video, or instructing its promotion, is baseless and frankly absurd.

In my own words, I’d say: “In a different court document, UMG stated that the idea behind Drake’s motion – suggesting he couldn’t have lost a rap battle any other way except through some far-fetched secret conspiracy reaching all the way to UMG’s highest corporate echelons – is absolutely preposterous.

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2025-08-15 21:31