A rumor, which suggests that the 'Hotline Bling' hitmaker and the 'Like That' spitter are asked by their shared music label to squash their beef, is debunked.
- May 8, 2024
AceShowbiz - A rumor suggesting that Drake and Kendrick Lamar are forced by their shared music label to squash their beef has been debunked. Universal Music Group reportedly is not interfering in the ongoing feud between the "Hotline Bling" hitmaker and the "Like That" spitter.
On Tuesday, May 7, TMZ confirmed that the speculation about the music label attempting to make Drake and Kendrick move on from their beef is not true. Speaking to the media outlet, a number of sources spilled, "There was no such meeting between UMG, Drake and Kendrick," adding, "This entire little narrative, which is starting to go viral online, is completely made up and not true."
The sources, who claimed to be “familiar with the inner workings of the label,” told the outlet that "not only did [Universal Music Group] not insert itself here" but also "[the label] would never jump into something like this." The outlet noted, "Kendrick and Drake's beef is between them and completely separate from the business side of things. And [Universal Music Group] just doesn't think it's their place to step in either way. So, they didn't, nor did they ever consider doing so."
The revelation came after a rumor about Universal Music Group mediating Drizzy and K.Dot circulated online. A screenshot featuring a message about a meeting between the two hip-hop artists and the label recently made its rounds online. The message read, "pgLang (Kendrick) and XO (The Weeknd), as of yesterday, were asked by Universal Music Group (UMG) to end their beef with OVO (Drake)."
"Kendrick apparently isn't budging at all, but UMG is pressing hard on their request to squash the beef," it continued. "UMG also had a Zoom meeting with all of the parties involved, and they want Kendrick, either directly or said through pgLang, to post a statement clarifying that Drake isn't a pedophile if Kendrick agrees to end the beef."
"Drake is losing the beef in UMG's eyes, so from UMG's perspective: The sooner that their beef ends, the better," it added. "The pedophile accusations directed at Drake are costing UMG, Nike and other parties 'a lot of money.' "
Drake and Kendrick have been exchanging diss tracks since Future and Metro Boomin released "Like That", featuring K.Dot's disses against Drizzy, on March 22. In response, Drake dropped "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made Freestyle". Kendrick clapped back with "Euphoria" and "6:16 In LA" before his nemesis responded with "Family Matters".
The feud got worse when K.Dot fired back with "Meet the Grahams" and "Not Like Us", on which he labels Drizzy a "certified pedophile." Not letting his rival win, Drizzy, whose security guard recently was shot outside his Toronto mansion, shuts down the accusation on "The Heart Part 6".
