This isn’t how issues go in a battle. Effectively, no less than in Hip Hop.
Drake has taken his feud with Kendrick Lamar to a brand new stage by submitting a petition in opposition to his personal label, Common Music Group (UMG). On Monday, the rapper accused UMG and Spotify of launching what he described as a “marketing campaign to govern and saturate the streaming companies and airwaves” with Lamar’s world hit diss monitor, “Not Like Us.” The music, celebrated as a contemporary traditional, topped charts worldwide and has grow to be a cornerstone of Kendrick’s discography.
In his submitting, Drake claimed that the overwhelming success of “Not Like Us” immediately harmed him financially. “UMG’s option to saturate the music market with ‘Not Like Us’ comes on the expense of its different artists,” the petition acknowledged, notably emphasizing Drake’s personal profession influence. Because the proprietor of his whole catalog’s copyright by means of his personal firm, Drake alleged that the label’s actions led to “financial hurt” and diminished alternatives for his music to thrive.
The petition additional argued that streaming and licensing function as a “zero-sum sport,” the place the success of 1 music inevitably limits the success of others. Drake additionally accused UMG of retaliating in opposition to his interior circle, claiming the corporate terminated workers related to or perceived as loyal to him. His authorized group referred to the promotional techniques employed by UMG and Spotify as “schemes,” asserting that these efforts unfairly prioritized Lamar’s music at his expense.
Drake’s determination to pursue authorized motion has sparked controversy inside the music business. Critics and insiders have mocked the transfer, suggesting it validates Kendrick Lamar’s critiques in “Not Like Us.” Charlamagne tha God shared his ideas on social media, calling the lawsuit a weak response to dropping a rap battle. “Since you misplaced a rap battle? Come on, man,” Charlamagne wrote.
In the meantime, Lamar’s associates, together with Rapsody, Mustard, and TDE’s Punch, joined the refrain of criticism, accusing Drake of exhibiting conduct becoming of the music’s title. “That is precisely what ‘Not Like Us’ was speaking about,” one commented.
Because the authorized drama unfolds, the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar seems to be reigniting on each private {and professional} ranges, including a brand new layer of intrigue to their storied rivalry.
