Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, is going head-to-head with Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the label of using questionable tactics to artificially boost the success of Kendrick Lamar‘s diss track, Not Like Us. The petition was filed on Monday, Nov. 25, in Manhattan federal court, sparking a new round of legal drama between the two industry giants.
The 17-page legal document alleges that UMG, via its subsidiary Interscope, released Not Like Us on May 4, 2024, and subsequently launched a campaign to “manipulate and saturate” streaming platforms and radio stations, effectively making the track go viral. According to Drake’s attorneys, the label employed “bots” and pay-for-play agreements to ensure the song reached massive numbers.
A key point in the petition is UMG’s alleged arrangement with Spotify, where the streaming giant received a 30% discount on licensing rates in exchange for giving Not Like Us special promotional treatment. The complaint cites a podcaster who claims to have been paid $2,500 to use bots to artificially inflate the song’s streaming numbers. Within days of its release, the track reportedly reached 30 million streams—just the beginning of its meteoric rise. Within 35 days, Not Like Us had crossed 300 million streams.
The legal documents also allege that UMG used “payola” tactics, with an undisclosed number of radio stations paid to play the track, violating the Communications Act of 1934, which prohibits such practices. Drake’s legal team argues that these actions were designed to elevate Not Like Us—even at the cost of overshadowing other artists, like Drake, who are competing for attention in an already saturated market.
The filing paints a picture of UMG executives willing to go to any lengths to boost profits. According to the petition, UMG has even resorted to firing employees loyal to Drake in an effort to cover up their alleged manipulations. Furthermore, Drake’s company claims that attempts to resolve the matter through negotiations have been met with resistance, with UMG directing Drake to take up his grievances with Kendrick Lamar directly.
Drake’s legal team is requesting “pre-action discovery” to gather more information on UMG’s practices and identify the right defendants to pursue a civil lawsuit. They have hinted at possible claims for wire fraud, mail fraud, bribery, and deceptive business practices.
Despite the controversy, the track has made waves. Not Like Us has now surpassed 900 million streams on Spotify, becoming the most streamed diss track in the platform’s history. The song also set a record for the most streams in a single week, racking up 96 million plays in just seven days.
However, Universal Music Group has vehemently denied the allegations. In a statement to PEOPLE, UMG dismissed the claims as “offensive and untrue,” insisting that they adhere to the highest ethical standards in their marketing and promotional efforts. According to UMG, Not Like Us’s success is the result of fans choosing to listen to the music they love, and any legal challenges to that success are nothing more than “contrived” arguments.
As of now, neither Drake nor Kendrick Lamar has made any public comment on the lawsuit, and Spotify has not yet responded to requests for comment.
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