UMG Fires Back At Drake’s Lawsuit, Calls Claims ‘Illogical’
Universal Music Group (UMG) is pushing back against Drake’s lawsuit, which accuses the company of defaming him by promoting Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” UMG called the lawsuit “illogical” and accused Drake of trying to misuse the legal system.
According to Billboard, in a statement released Wednesday, January 15, UMG denied all of Drake’s allegations. The lawsuit, filed the same day in New York federal court, claims UMG knowingly promoted false and damaging claims in Lamar’s track to prioritize “corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists.”
UMG reportedly responded by pointing out that Drake has built his career on public rap battles filled with bold and controversial claims about his rivals—the same behavior he is now challenging in court.
“Throughout his career, Drake has intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth ‘rap battles,’” the statement read. “He now seeks to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist’s creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for distributing that artist’s music.”
Drake’s lawsuit does not target Lamar directly but instead blames UMG for releasing a song it allegedly knew contained defamatory statements. UMG denied this accusation and pledged to support any artist facing similar lawsuits. “We have not and do not engage in defamation—against any individual,” UMG said. “We will vigorously defend this litigation to protect our people, our reputation, and any artist who might become a frivolous litigation target for simply writing a song.”
Last year, Drake and Lamar traded diss tracks, ending with Lamar’s Not Like Us, which accused Drake of being a “certified pedophile.” The song topped the charts and sparked widespread controversy. In November, Drake announced plans to sue UMG, accusing the company of promoting a false and harmful narrative that damaged his reputation and endangered his safety. On Wednesday, he followed through, alleging that UMG profited by turning him into a target for harassment.
“UMG intentionally sought to turn Drake into a pariah, a target for harassment, or worse,” his lawyers argued. The legal battle highlights a serious rift between UMG, the world’s largest music company, and one of its biggest stars, who has spent his entire career under UMG through deals with Young Money and Republic Records.
