The Canadian rapper lodged a pre-action petition against the major music industry company he has been under contract with for most of his career.
Drake believes Kendrick Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us” achieved chart-topping success due to more than just talent. On Monday, a Toronto resident lodged a complaint in a Manhattan court, claiming that Universal Music Group and Spotify were engaged in exaggerating the track’s streaming figures.
According to legal documents cited by Billboard, attorneys for Frozen Moments LLC, Drake’s independent company, stated that UMG did not depend on luck or common business methods. Instead of that, it initiated a strategy to control and flood the streaming services and airwaves.
According to the report, Spotify supposedly obtained the rights to “Not Like Us” at significantly lower fees, and utilized streaming bots to give the impression that the song was more popular than it truly was.
Although the petition did not specifically mention other DSPs, it suggested that UMG may have used comparable tactics with other streaming platforms too: “Through gathered information and belief, UMG may have compensated Apple to intentionally steer Siri users away from ‘Not Like Us’.” Users would allegedly be directed to the mentioned track for its “Certified Lover Boy.” Lyric mentioning “certified pedophiles” found while looking for Drake’s sixth album.
As per the lawsuit, the music company’s behavior violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act along with New York laws on deceptive business practices and false advertising. The legal documents stated that UMG’s plans were driven by Interscope executives’ goal to maximize their personal profits.
Lamar spat sharp lyrics over a beat by Mustard, warning Drake about going to cell block one due to his preferences for younger individuals. In other places, the Compton local took aim at OVO associates such as PARTYNEXTDOOR, Baka Not Nice, and CHUBBS, specifically naming them.
Adding to the insult, more celebrities also got involved in the situation. During the 2024 ESPY Awards, Serena Williams grooved to the music, while at the BET Awards, Taraji P. Henson appeared dressed as Lamar from his “The Pop Out – Ken and Friends” concert.
