Drake and his record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), are locked in a heated legal battle, and things are getting messy. The rapper recently sued UMG, accusing them of defamation for releasing and promoting Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us. Now, the label is firing back, calling his lawsuit a desperate attempt to recover from a rap battle loss.
In a motion filed on March 17, UMG asked the court to throw out Drake’s lawsuit, claiming that he “lost a rap battle that he started” and is now suing his own label in an attempt to save face. According to UMG, Drake had no issue with the label promoting his own diss tracks aimed at Lamar—until the tables turned.
The rap battle between Drake and Lamar was intense, with both artists dropping multiple tracks taking shots at each other. In Not Like Us, Lamar went for the jugular, making shocking claims about Drake and his associates. But UMG argues that it’s all part of the rap game—where exaggeration and controversy fuel the competition. They pointed out that Drake himself once supported a movement against using rap lyrics as evidence in court, yet now he’s claiming Not Like Us is defamatory.
Drake, however, sees things differently. His lawsuit claims UMG intentionally helped push Not Like Us into a viral hit, despite its lyrics painting him as a predator and allegedly encouraging violence against him. He also took issue with the song’s cover art and music video, which he says featured his Toronto home in a way that mimicked law enforcement markers for sex offenders.
UMG has denied Drake’s accusations, insisting they wouldn’t damage the reputation of one of their most successful artists. A spokesperson for the label called the lawsuit “frivolous” and said that they’ve worked hard to support Drake throughout his career. They argue that he’s using the legal system to silence another artist’s creative expression simply because the diss track hit too hard.
Drake’s lawyer, Michael J. Gottlieb, isn’t backing down. He claims that UMG is trying to distract from a bigger issue—profiting from content that spreads dangerous misinformation. He insists the lawsuit will move forward and expose the label’s history of exploiting its artists.
For now, the court will decide whether Drake’s case has merit, but one thing’s for sure—this fight is far from over.
