Drake is taking a bold step into the legal ring, claiming that Universal Music Group and Spotify have ganged up to inflate the success of Kendrick Lamar’s track, “Not Like Us.”
Drake’s legal team launched a “pre-action” petition in a Manhattan court, suggesting UMG used aggressive tactics such as bots and payola to boost the song’s popularity. This step is crucial to gather information before pursuing a formal lawsuit, as required by New York State law.
The allegations claim UMG manipulated Spotify’s algorithms, ensuring “Not Like Us” appeared when fans searched for unrelated songs or artists. In a particularly striking charge, the legal documents assert that UMG paid Apple to have Siri redirect users looking for Drake’s music to “Not Like Us” instead.
The court action demands that UMG and Spotify provide all relevant documents before any lawsuit can proceed. However, UMG has so far dismissed Drake’s claims, suggesting he direct his grievances towards Kendrick Lamar.
Amidst the legal maneuvering, Kendrick has remained silent, but Top Dawg Entertainment’s Punch took to social media platform X, expressing disbelief over the situation. He wrote, “Naaaaaahhhh. The rap streets is done. SMH,” capturing the surprise and skepticism swirling around this drama.
This legal battle comes on the heels of a recent livestream where Drake jabbed at his rivals, including Lamar. Appearing on xQc’s Kick channel, Drake threw shade, saying, “I’m here — mind, body and soul fully intact, in case you were wondering. You need facts to take me out; fairytales won’t do it.”
Drake’s comments were likely a retort to Kendrick’s past diss tracks that questioned Drake’s personal life, including rumors about secretive relationships and a hidden daughter. The feud remains one of the most talked-about in the rap world.
While Drake didn’t stop there, he also aimed at Steve Lacy calling him a “fragile” opponent and humorously demanded to turn off The Weeknd’s “Starboy” when it played during his stream.
Following this verbal joust online, Kendrick engaged in a playful exchange with a friend, Reli, who posted a cheeky message about Drake becoming a streamer. Kendrick seemed amused, responding with laughing emojis.
As the drama unfolds, the world watches to see how this legal and lyrical battle between two rap titans will play out. It’s a clash that’s reshaping the rap narrative.
