In a surprising legal twist, Drake is suing Universal Music Group (UMG), his own record label, over the release of Kendrick Lamar‘s controversial diss track “Not Like Us.” The “God’s Plan” rapper filed a lawsuit on January 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging defamation by UMG for promoting the song that he claims falsely accuses him of being a pedophile.
The lawsuit details how the track, released in May 2024, includes damaging lyrics that Drake believes are both false and harmful. One line, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young,” is singled out in the complaint, with Drake accusing Lamar of calling him a “certified pedophile” and suggesting that he should be put on “neighborhood watch.”
Additionally, Drake argues that the song’s cover art and music video feature his Toronto home, with images resembling those used to identify sex offenders. The lawsuit further accuses UMG of exploiting the track for commercial gain, despite knowing the allegations against Drake were baseless.
UMG, which has signed Drake since 2009, responded to the lawsuit with a statement denying the accusations. The label insists that it has no intention of harming Drake’s reputation and stands behind the creative expression of its artists. They also criticized the lawsuit as an attempt to silence artistic expression and vowed to defend themselves vigorously in court.
Drake, who has long been a key figure in the rap battle scene, has faced off with Kendrick Lamar in the past, but this lawsuit adds a new twist to their ongoing feud. Drake has previously accused UMG of manipulating streaming services to promote Lamar’s song, a claim the label strongly denied. As Drake’s legal team moves forward with this defamation case, all eyes will be on the courtroom to see how this high-profile dispute unfolds.
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