Drake has escalated his legal battle against his record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), claiming that Kendrick Lamar’s high-profile performances at the Super Bowl halftime show and the Grammy Awards significantly amplified the alleged defamation contained in Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.”
Citing court filings submitted Wednesday, cnn.com reports that the Canadian rap superstar argues that these events, boasting a combined viewership exceeding 100 million, introduced a vast new audience to the song’s damaging accusations, leading to increased threats against him and his family.
Drake’s initial lawsuit against UMG was filed in January, directly addressing the contentious “Not Like Us” track, in which Lamar levelled deeply personal and unverified accusations. The amended complaint now specifically highlights the impact of Lamar’s appearances on two of the world’s most prominent stages. “These prestigious and high-exposure events introduced new listeners” to the allegedly defamatory song, Drake’s legal team stated in the latest filing. They further emphasised the tangible consequences of this increased visibility, asserting that not “only did streams of the recording increase significantly following these two mega-cultural events, but threats against Drake and his family did as well.”
It is noteworthy that while Drake’s legal action is directed at UMG, his own label, Republic Records, and Lamar’s label, Interscope Records, both fall under the UMG umbrella. UMG has consistently maintained its stance that Drake’s lawsuit is without merit and has actively sought its dismissal. In a statement issued on Thursday, the record label responded to Drake’s expanded lawsuit, asserting, “Drake, unquestionably one of the world’s most accomplished artistes and with whom we’ve enjoyed a 16-year successful relationship, is being misled by his legal representatives into taking one absurd legal step after another.” The label’s motion to dismiss the initial lawsuit remains pending before the court.
Despite UMG’s efforts to halt the proceedings, Drake recently secured a procedural victory. Judge Jeannette Vargas rejected UMG’s attempt to pause the “discovery” phase, a crucial part of the legal process involving the exchange of information and evidence. This ruling allows Drake’s legal team to move forward in obtaining documents from UMG related to the Super Bowl performance, the Grammy Awards, Lamar’s record contract, and other pertinent information.
The lawsuit remains in its preliminary stages, and the possibility of an out-of-court settlement, a common occurrence in defamation cases, still exists. However, if no settlement is reached, the trial is currently on track to potentially commence in the summer of 2026, promising a protracted and closely watched legal battle within the music industry.
