Drake sues longtime label UMG for defamation over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Drake sued his longtime label on Wednesday, accusing Common Music Group (AS:UMG) of defamation for selling Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” saying the music’s false accusation that the Canadian rapper is a pedophile has put him and his household at risk.

In a criticism in Manhattan federal courtroom, Drake stated the music was “meant to convey the precise, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a prison pedophile” and the general public ought to exert “vigilante justice” in response.

Drake stated it led to tried break-ins at his dwelling, prompting him to journey with further safety, and pull his seven-year-old son from his Toronto elementary faculty and the Toronto space.

He and Lamar, an American rapper who gained the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for music, have feuded for a couple of decade.

“UMG could spin this criticism as a rap beef gone authorized, however this lawsuit isn’t a couple of confrontation between artists,” based on the criticism from Drake, whose given title is Aubrey Drake Graham.

“However a relationship spanning greater than a decade, UMG deliberately sought to show Drake right into a pariah, a goal for harassment, or worse,” the criticism added. “UMG selected company greed over the protection and well-being of its artists.”

Neither UMG nor its attorneys instantly responded to requests for remark. UMG has denied making an attempt to undermine Drake or utilizing unethical practices to advertise “Not Like Us.”

The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for defamation and harassment. Lamar isn’t a defendant, although Drake referred to as “Not Like Us” defamatory. Drake’s attorneys didn’t instantly reply to requests for extra remark.

Wednesday’s lawsuit adopted a November petition in a New York state courtroom by which Drake, via his firm Frozen Moments, accused UMG and Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) of utilizing payola and streaming bots to advertise “Not Like Us” at his music’s expense.

Drake withdrew that petition on Tuesday evening. His associated case towards UMG and radio firm iHeartMedia (NASDAQ:IHRT) stays pending in a Texas state courtroom, on-line information present.

The feud between Drake and Lamar has performed out partially via so-called “diss” tracks together with “Not Like Us.”

In that music, launched final Might 4, Lamar talked about Drake by title, saying “Drake, I hear you want ’em younger” and calling him and others “licensed pedophiles.”

A day earlier, Drake launched “Household Issues,” showing to accuse Lamar of bodily abuse and infidelity, and questioning whether or not Lamar’s enterprise companion fathered one in all his youngsters.

“Not Like Us” topped Billboard’s Sizzling 100 for 2 weeks final 12 months. It acquired 5 nominations for the Feb. 2 Grammy Awards, together with file of the 12 months and music of the 12 months.

The case is Graham v UMG Recordings Inc, U.S. District Court docket, Southern District of New York, No. 25-00399.