Toronto rapper Drake has been drawn into a US class-action claim that accuses him of taking gambling-site money to “pump up” his Spotify figures, per cbc.ca.
Court papers filed in Virginia on December 31 say Drake, influencer Adin Ross and middle-man George Nguyen swapped virtual chips on the site Stake.us, then funnelled the winnings into paid-for plays of Drake’s tracks.
The suit argues the scheme warped chart and playlist algorithms, “drowning out” honest artistes and fooling fans. It labels Stake.us an “illegal offshore casino” that dodges US bans by letting users cash out crypto and gift cards instead of dollars.
None of the claims has been proved. Drake’s team and Stake have yet to comment. The case, open to every Stake.us user, seeks at least $5 million in damages plus costs.
•Featured image: Drake/Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press
