In a bold move that has escalated the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the Canadian rapper has filed a legal petition against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify. Drake alleges the two entities engaged in unethical practices to artificially inflate the popularity of Lamar’s controversial diss track, Not Like Us.
Allegations of Manipulation
According to the court filing by Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, UMG orchestrated a scheme involving bots, payola, and reduced licensing rates to Spotify to boost the track’s streaming numbers. The lawsuit also accuses UMG of leveraging other streaming platforms, including Apple Music’s Siri integration, to push the song to unsuspecting listeners.
“UMG didn’t rely on chance or ordinary business practices,” the petition states. “Instead, they launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.”
This accusation has raised eyebrows, particularly because UMG serves as the distributor for both Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s music. The lawsuit, filed in a Manhattan court on Monday, seeks legal recourse for what Drake’s camp calls an illegal effort to harm his reputation and diminish his own work’s reach.
The Track at the Centre of the Feud
The contentious track Not Like Us is part of Lamar’s recent GNX album, which has reignited the long-standing rivalry between the two rap giants. The song directly targets Drake with personal accusations, including references to his son, Adonis, and allusions to past controversies.
This isn’t the first time Lamar has called out Drake in his music. Over the years, Lamar has released tracks accusing Drake of inappropriate behaviour and questioning his credibility. Drake has denied these claims, but the animosity between the two has only grown.
In response to Not Like Us, Drake reportedly released his own retaliatory tracks, only to later delete them from social media platforms.
UMG Denies the Claims
A spokesperson for UMG quickly dismissed Drake’s allegations, calling them “offensive and untrue.”
“The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is baseless. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns,” the statement read.
UMG emphasized that music fans, not artificial methods, determine the success of songs.
Feud Reaches New Heights
The legal filing marks a significant escalation in the rivalry between the two artists. Beyond the courtroom drama, the feud reflects deeper tensions within the music industry, particularly around the role of streaming platforms and promotional tactics in shaping an artist’s success.
As the case unfolds, fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely to see how this chapter of the Drake-Lamar saga plays out.
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