Movies

Drake lawsuit accuses Universal Music Group of defamation for ‘Not Like Us’

BBG News

Drake is suing the world’s biggest record company — a company to which he himself is signed.

On Wednesday, a federal lawsuit was initiated by the prominent rap artist, who alleges that Universal Music Group slandered and harassed him by disseminating and promoting Kendrick Lamar’s track “Not Like Us,” where Lamar refers to Drake as a potential pedophile.

Last year, “Not Like Us” was released amidst a high-profile dispute between Drake and Lamar, which included numerous harsh diss tracks exchanged between them. This song, produced by veteran Los Angeles producer Mustard, sees Compton-born Lamar addressing Drake, warning him about his preference for younger partners and cautioning him not to step foot in a prison cell (cell block one). Later on, Lamar accuses Drake of cultural appropriation throughout his career, labeling him a “colonizer.

Music

Over the years, the L.A. music producer’s breakthrough in hip-hop has been a result of a lifetime of hard work and dedication. He shares his journey through the West Coast rap scene, detailing how his persistence paved the way for the phenomenal success of Kendrick Lamar’s hit single “Not Like Us.

In a series where the two rappers had previously traded allegations about domestic violence and negligent parenting, “Not Like Us” was seen as the decisive blow in their feud. This track has been played over 1 billion times on Spotify and is nominated for five categories at the upcoming Grammy Awards, including Record and Song of the Year.

Currently, Drake (also known as Aubrey Graham) is asserting in a legal dispute that Universal Music Group endangered his life by approving, distributing, and promoting a rap song that wrongly accused Drake of being a pedophile and encouraged violent retaliation against him. The lawsuit further claims that UMG, which has profited from exploiting Drake’s music for years, was aware that the defamatory allegations against Drake were untrue but prioritized corporate gain over the safety and welfare of its artists.

The grievance refers to an event that occurred at Drake’s residence in Toronto, famously shown on the album cover for “Not Like Us.” This luxurious property is said to have housed individuals registered as sex offenders. A few days following the launch of “Not Like Us,” someone fired shots and injured a security officer at this location.

Representatives for UMG didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Music

At the 67th Grammys, several artists are in contention for various awards, among them being Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Billie Eilish.

I, as a dedicated moviegoer, find myself sharing news about a significant legal action that has been filed. This case was taken to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, led by attorney Michael J. Gottlieb – a name that’s been making waves recently due to his strategic use of defamation law in high-profile cases.

One such instance was against Rudy Giuliani, an ally of former President Donald Trump, when he falsely accused Georgia election workers of attempting to steal the 2020 presidential election. Another notable case involved the perpetrators of the so-called Pizzagate conspiracy theory, where a pizzeria in Washington, D.C., was wrongfully accused of being a hub for a child sex ring.

Now, I’m excited to see how this new legal battle unfolds.

Drake’s grievance likens the shooting incident at his residence, an issue he reportedly informed UMG about, to the “Year 2024 version of ‘Pizzagate.'” In simpler terms, he is suggesting that the shooting event is as significant and questionable as the Pizzagate conspiracy theory was in its time.

The court documents make clear that Drake’s lawsuit isn’t targeting the musician behind “Not Like Us”, but is squarely focused on Universal Music Group (UMG), with whom Drake has been a recording artist since 2009. In this legal action, Drake accuses UMG of promoting “Not Like Us” using questionable methods such as bots on streaming platforms and biased practices at radio stations, which he claims were designed to undervalue his music and brand. This, according to the lawsuit, was done by UMG in order to strengthen their position during contract negotiations with Drake, potentially forcing him to accept less favorable terms in a new agreement with the label.

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2025-01-15 23:33

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