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 in peril.

In a criticism in Manhattan federal court docket, Drake stated the music was “supposed to convey the particular, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a felony pedophile” and the general public ought to exert “vigilante justice” in response.

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

He and Lamar, an American rapper who gained the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, have feuded for a few decade. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for defamation and harassment.

“UMG could spin this criticism as a rap beef gone authorized, however this lawsuit isn’t a few disagreement between artists,” in keeping with 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 security and well-being of its artists.”

In a press release, UMG stated it has not defamed anybody, known as Drake’s claims unfaithful, and stated it could be illogical to hurt his repute after investing massively to make him commercially and financially profitable.

UMG additionally accused Drake of attempting to “weaponize” the authorized course of in searching for damages, and attempting to silence Lamar’s inventive expression for “having accomplished nothing greater than write a music.”

Lamar isn’t a defendant, although Drake known as “Not Like Us” defamatory. Drake’s legal professionals had no extra remark.

COMPETING ‘DISS’ TRACKS

Wednesday’s lawsuit adopted a November petition in a New York state court docket wherein 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 court docket, on-line data 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 Could 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 accomplice fathered considered one of his youngsters.

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

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