Amid a fiery feud between hip-hop heavyweights Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the Canadian rapper has launched legal actions alleging underhanded tactics to inflate the popularity of Lamar's 'Not Like Us.'
- Nov 26, 2024
AceShowbiz - The hip-hop feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar is escalating. The Canadian rapper, through his company Frozen Moments LLC, filed a pre-action disclosure in Manhattan court, alleging that Universal Music Group (UMG) engaged in a "scheme" to manipulate the success of K.Dot's fiercely critical song, "Not Like Us." The rapper's petition claims that UMG used bots, payola, and other deceptive practices to boost the song's streaming numbers on platforms like Spotify.
This feud, increasingly personal and venomous, culminated with Lamar's diss tracks targeting Drake with severe accusations, including allegations of inappropriate relationships, which Drake has consistently denied.
Coinciding with Lamar's "GNX" new album release, now the beef takes a startling turn as Drake embarked on the legal route to challenge the perceived manipulation.
Drake's filing alleges that UMG "did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices." Instead, according to his attorneys, the company orchestrated a campaign to manipulate streaming platforms and airwaves to artificially boost the song's popularity.
,p> The petition mentions tactics such as paying significantly reduced licensing rates to Spotify, hiring bots, and even influencing Siri to misdirect users searching for Drake's album to Lamar's diss track.
Particularly damning is the allegation that a whistleblower claimed on a podcast to have been paid $2,500 via Zelle by someone associated with Lamar's label, Interscope, to boost the tracks' reach. Additionally, the petition accuses UMG of paying social media influencers to promote the song without disclosing the sponsorship.
Drake asserts that attempts to resolve the issue directly with UMG have failed, prompting this legal action. He claims UMG tried to deflect responsibility, suggesting he should sue Lamar instead.
While UMG, Spotify, and Lamar's reps have yet to comment, this high-profile legal battle underscores the intensity of their feud and the lengths each side is willing to go to defend their reputation and artistry.
