New Drake lawsuit claims his label pushed ‘Not Like Us’ diss to defame him : NPR

The feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar continues to set new precedents on this planet of rap beef. Drake has filed a brand new lawsuit towards his guardian label, Common Music Group, accusing the conglomerate of selling a music that put his life and livelihood in speedy hazard.

A brand new 91-page lawsuit filed in New York’s Southern District Courtroom as we speak particulars three tried dwelling invasions the Canadian rapper skilled at his Toronto residence final spring — one involving the capturing of his safety guard — and months of on-line hate. Drake is alleging within the petition that these break-ins, and the broader vitriol he skilled, are a direct results of UMG’s launch of Kendrick Lamar’s, “Not Like Us,” the focused Drake diss-turned-hit single.

The lawsuit states that UMG knowingly dedicated defamation of character by releasing and selling “Not Like Us” as a result of the document’s lyrics “advance the false and malicious narrative that Drake is a pedophile,” use an aerial view of his dwelling as the duvet artwork to the music and encourage the general public to “resort to vigilante justice in response.”

“The recording cloaks cleverly harmful lyrics behind a catchy beat and welcoming hook. Capitalizing on these attributes, UMG used each software at its disposal to make sure that the world would hear that Drake “like ’em younger,'” that lawsuit reads. The submitting goes on to quote a lot of TikTok and YouTube postings that defame the rapper because of the music; shares a photograph of flyer that was posted round his neighborhood calling him a predator; and claims the musician needed to pull his baby out of college for concern of his security.

Graham’s attorneys allege that UMG closely promoted the observe as a way to weaken Drake’s fame and devalue his model as an artist with the intention of backing him right into a nook and re-signing a deal that was favorable to the label.

This newest swimsuit follows information that the Canadian rap star withdrew a earlier submitting towards UMG and streaming big Spotify, which accused the businesses of launching a marketing campaign that paid influencers, radio stations and others to advertise the music final summer time. Each lawsuits lean into UMG’s energy within the state of affairs and downplay Lamar’s half within the battle because the artist who launched the music laced with accusations of pedophilia and baby grooming.

“UMG could spin this criticism as a rap beef gone authorized, however this lawsuit will not be a couple of disagreement between artists. This lawsuit includes no claims towards Kendrick Lamar or another artist; as an alternative, it’s about UMG — the writer and unique rights holder of Lamar’s music, in addition to Drake’s — and its malicious resolution to publish and promote” the observe, the lawsuit reads.

Within the months because it was launched, “Not Like Us” has grown right into a cultural phenomenon far bigger than the preliminary beef. Other than these lawsuits regarding the observe, “Not Like Us” has change into a West Coast anthem, has been streamed a couple of billion occasions worldwide (and counting) and is nominated for 5 awards heading into the 2025 Grammys subsequent month, together with Music and File of the 12 months. Off the momentum of “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar has launched a cinematic music video, hosted a Juneteenth live performance in Los Angeles and dropped his sixth studio album, GNX, a physique of labor that doubles down on the message of separating himself from these within the tradition he sees as pretend, nefarious and fraudulent. By comparability, the tracks that Drake dropped within the wake of the pair’s battle (“No Face” and “Housekeeping Is aware of” feat. Latto) have racked up streams however struggled to make the identical influence.

Drake is suing UMG for an undisclosed quantity in damages. NPR has reached out to the label for remark.