rake’s legal feud with Kendrick Lamar and Universal Music Group (UMG) is delivering more twists and turns than a Shonda Rhimes drama—and the stakes are just as high. The saga began with Drake accusing Spotify and UMG of artificially inflating streams for Lamar’s scathing diss track, ‘Not Like Us’, which takes Drake to the cleaners, by the way.

However, in a sudden plot twist, Drake withdrew his legal action against one party, only to double down with an even more targeted defamation lawsuit against UMG. This isn’t just a beef between two rappers anymore; it’s a full-blown legal war, and the courtroom is the stage.

Let’s start with the diss track itself: ‘Not Like Us’ is less of a rap song and more of a flamethrower aimed directly at Drake’s reputation. Lamar doesn’t pull any punches, leveling accusations of pedophilia and cultural appropriation that sent shockwaves throughout the industry. But it doesn’t stop there—the track’s controversial artwork depicts Drake’s Toronto mansion covered in symbols associated with registered sex offenders, a move his lawyers claim incited real-world violence. One incident, a shooting at Drake’s property, has added a layer of real danger to what might have otherwise been a war of words.

Initially, Drake’s legal team went for a two-pronged attack, alleging that Spotify and UMG had manipulated ‘Not Like Us’ into a chart-topping hit by using bots and offering reduced licensing rates. UMG outright dismissed these claims, calling them “offensive and untrue,” while Spotify responded with a casual shrug, citing a modest €500 Marquee ad campaign in France as the extent of its promotional efforts. But Drake wasn’t buying it, and his lawyers painted a picture of a coordinated effort to undermine his standing in the industry. When Spotify formally objected to Drake’s petition in December, it seemed like a dead end—but Drake wasn’t done yet.

In a move that feels more like checkers than chess, Drake pivoted his legal focus entirely onto UMG, which is also his record label. His new lawsuit accuses the music giant of actively promoting ‘Not Like Us’ through unethical practices, including paying influencers and radio stations to amplify the track’s reach. The accusations don’t stop there: Drake’s team also alleges that UMG prioritized profit over its artists’ safety by greenlighting the........

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