Drake is intensifying his legal battle against Universal Music Group (UMG), claiming the label further damaged his reputation by backing Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping diss track, Not Like Us.
In a newly amended complaint filed Wednesday in a New York federal court, Drake alleges that UMG’s support of Lamar’s song, despite its inflammatory lyrics, has led to real-world consequences, including increased threats against him and his family. The rapper argues that high-profile platforms like the Grammys and the Super Bowl amplified the alleged defamation by exposing the track to millions of new listeners.
Lamar, who is also signed to Universal Music Group under a separate division, dominated both the charts and cultural spotlight in early 2024. He took home five Grammy awards in February, just a week before headlining the Super Bowl halftime show, which drew a staggering 133.5 million viewers. Although he performed Not Like Us at the event, he notably left out the line describing Drake as a “certified pedophile.”
Drake initially filed suit in January, accusing UMG of spreading a “false and malicious narrative” by promoting Kendrick Lamar’s diss, which also refers to him as a “predator” and someone who should be “placed on neighborhood watch.”
UMG responded with a motion to dismiss, claiming Drake’s accusations are nothing more than a “desperate attempt to save face” after losing a highly publicized lyrical feud.
Now, with his amended complaint, Drake insists that UMG’s continued support of the song, especially through its exposure at “prestigious and high-exposure events” has inflicted lasting harm on his public image and personal safety.
