
Universal Music Group (UMG), the home of both Drake and his rap rival Kendrick Lamar, has refuted the defamation lawsuit filed against them by Drake, asserting their support for artists' creative expression.
- Jan 16, 2025
AceShowbiz - In a legal showdown that has captured the attention of the music industry and fans alike, Drake has filed a federal defamation suit against his long-time label, Universal Music Group (UMG). The crux of the lawsuit revolves around Drake's allegations that UMG contributed to a defamatory narrative by distributing Kendrick Lamar's controversial diss track, "Not Like Us."
Drake claims that the diss track propagated a "false and malicious narrative" about him. UMG, however, has fervently denied these assertions.
In a statement, the corporation remarked, "Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist - let alone Drake - is illogical. We have invested massively in his music and our employees around the world have worked tirelessly for many years to help him achieve historic commercial and personal financial success."
The statement underscored the extensive support UMG has provided Drake throughout his career, noting, "Throughout his career, Drake has intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth 'rap battles' to express his feelings about other artists."
"He now seeks to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist's creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for distributing that artist's music."
UMG concluded with a strong defense of their actions and reputation, "We have not and do not engage in defamation - against any individual. At the same time, we will vigorously defend this litigation to protect our people and our reputation, as well as any artist who might directly or indirectly become a frivolous litigation target for having done nothing more than write a song."
This legal battle comes amidst wider accusations from Drake, who has also dropped a petition against UMG and Spotify, alleging that they manipulated Kendrick Lamar's streaming numbers during their public feud. These proceedings have sparked debates about artistic freedom, the role of music labels, and the legal ramifications of diss tracks in the digital age.
The outcome of Drake's lawsuit could potentially set a precedent for how artist-label disputes are handled in the future, making this one of the most significant legal battles in recent music history.