In a clash that mixes music and law, Drake challenges Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s hit ‘Not Like Us.’
- Drake accuses UMG of boosting ‘Not Like Us’ through bots and payola, seeking to expose any fraudulent activities.
- Amid legal jabs, bot allegations suggest UMG’s covert agenda to inflate the song’s popularity and undermine Drake.
- Drake files for pre-action discovery, hoping to gather evidence of UMG’s potential malpractices before a formal lawsuit.
- Kendrick Lamar remains untouched by these legal maneuvers as Drake zeroes in on UMG, not the rapper himself.
The world of rap is no stranger to beef, but when it spills into the courtroom, eyebrows are raised. Enter Drake, who has stirred the pot by filing legal petitions against Universal Music Group (UMG). Why? It’s all because of Kendrick Lamar’s explosive diss track, ‘Not Like Us.’ Drake believes UMG played a dirty game to make this song a chart-topper.
In his first petition, Drake suggests that UMG used ‘bots’ to pump up streaming numbers for ‘Not Like Us.’ An individual on a popular livestream claimed he was paid to fabricate 30 million Spotify streams, according to the filing. However, conflicting reports from Spotify cast doubt on these botting accusations, leaving room for debate.
Drake is not only questioning the integrity of these streams. He also accuses UMG of collaborating with Spotify to give ‘Not Like Us’ a special push, allegedly offering a discount in exchange for favorable recommendations. The legality of such moves is speculated to fall under Spotify’s Discovery Mode program.
Next, the famous Canadian artist targets UMG’s alleged dealings with Apple Music. He claims the tech giant was paid to direct users to ‘Not Like Us’ instead of his own tracks. A video evidence, originally intended to expose this, turned out to demonstrate how lyric recognition played a part instead, adding a twist to the saga.
Radio airplay is another battlefield, with allegations that UMG engaged in classic payola to amplify ‘Not Like Us’ on the airwaves. The specifics of these deals are unclear, but the whispers of under-the-table payments add another layer to Drake’s legal battle.
Social media isn’t exempt either. Drake claims UMG paid influencers to promote ‘Not Like Us,’ allegedly removing copyright barriers to lure even more attention. The company’s alleged actions have, according to Drake, resulted in economic harm to his career, though details about the financial impact remain vague.
UMG, on their end, denies these allegations fiercely. They highlighted their commitment to ethical standards in a public statement, branding Drake’s legal efforts as misguided. Despite the noise, Kendrick stands on the sidelines, avoiding the direct legal spotlight in this melodrama.
As of now, Drake hasn’t officially sued Kendrick, focusing his legal energy on UMG. His actions have sparked a wave of jokes and memes online, with people poking fun at the notion of legal action in a music rivalry. Meanwhile, ‘Not Like Us’ continues to rise in streams, perhaps buoyed by the controversy itself.
Whether or not Drake’s allegations hold, this legal battle adds a dramatic chapter to rap rivalries.