Drake accused UMG of deliberately selling Kendrick Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl and Grammy performances to wreck his fame.
Drake has expanded his authorized battle with Common Music Group (UMG), submitting a 107-page amended criticism concentrating on Kendrick Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl and Grammy performances.
The up to date lawsuit, filed in New York on Wednesday (April 16), argues that Lamar’s efficiency of “Not Like Us” throughout the 2025 Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present—broadcast to 133 million viewers—was “orchestrated to assassinate [Drake’s] character.”
The criticism factors to the NFL’s choice to take away the phrase “pedophile” from the televised model as proof that each the league and UMG acknowledged the lyric’s defamatory nature.
Drake’s authorized workforce additionally cited the 2025 Grammy Awards, the place “Not Like Us” received each File of the 12 months and Track of the 12 months and was carried out stay to an viewers of 15 million.
The criticism argues that this additional unfold the tune’s message and intensified the reputational injury.
The rapper’s attorneys declare UMG both turned a blind eye or actively labored with outdoors events to spice up the tune’s streaming numbers by bots.
UMG Claims Drake Being “Misled” By His Authorized Tam
UMG dismissed the lawsuit as baseless and damaging.
“Drake, unquestionably one of many world’s most completed artists and with whom we’ve loved a 16-year profitable relationship, is being misled by his authorized representatives into taking one absurd authorized step after one other,” the corporate mentioned in a press release. “Each the Texas and New York proceedings are an affront to all artists and inventive expression. Ought to his authorized representatives senselessly hold the New York lawsuit alive, we are going to exhibit that each one remaining claims are with out advantage.”
UMG added, “It’s shameful that these silly and frivolous authorized theatrics proceed. They’re reputationally and financially pricey to Drake and haven’t any probability of success.”
The court docket beforehand granted Drake’s workforce permission to request Lamar’s contract with UMG and different inside paperwork. His legal professional claimed the label was “intent on concealing” key proof.
The criticism additionally alleges that the continuing promotion of “Not Like Us” has led to elevated threats in opposition to Drake and his household whereas additionally harming his enterprise relationships and public picture.
A listening to on UMG’s movement to dismiss is ready for June 30. If the case strikes ahead, a jury trial might start later this yr and last as long as three weeks.
