Rapper Drake is suing his record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), over allegations of defamation made in the song “Not Like Us” by fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar. The lawsuit claims that UMG launched a campaign to make the song a viral hit despite knowing its lyrics falsely accuse Drake of being a pedophile and calling for violent retribution against him.
According to Drake, the attempted break-ins at his Canadian estate in May 2024 were directly linked to UMG’s promotion of “Not Like Us”. The security guard who was shot during one of the incidents is still recovering, and Drake alleges that UMG chose corporate greed over artist safety.
The feud between Drake and Lamar began last year with a collaboration on J. Cole’s song “First Person Shooter”, which led to a series of diss tracks from both artists. However, it’s clear that Lamar’s side of the story has gained more traction, with some critics labeling Drake as trying to silence an artist through the legal process.
UMG denies any wrongdoing and says they will vigorously defend themselves against the lawsuit. The case highlights the increasingly cutthroat nature of hip-hop feuds and the blurred lines between artistic expression and defamation.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/15/entertainment/drake-umg-suit-not-like-us/index.html