Drake Files Legal Action Against Universal Music Over Alleged Manipulation of Kendrick Lamar’s Track “Not Like Us”
Drake Sues Universal Music: Claims Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ Was Manipulated
Drake has initiated legal proceedings against Universal Music, accusing the label of artificially inflating the streaming numbers of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us. The legal complaint, filed by Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, in New York, claims that Universal and Spotify were involved in a coordinated scheme that utilized bots, payola, and other manipulative tactics to boost the song’s popularity.
Drake’s legal team contends that Universal did not leave the song’s success to chance. Instead, they assert that the label orchestrated a campaign to manipulate streaming services and radio stations to prioritize Not Like Us, which had an astonishing 96 million streams within its first week and charted at number one in the U.S. However, Drake’s lawyers suggest that these achievements were not organic but artificially generated. The filing suggests that Universal collaborated with undisclosed parties to enhance the song’s visibility, allegedly by reducing the royalty rates for the track by 30% in exchange for Spotify recommending it to users. Additionally, a whistleblower’s testimony, mentioned in the petition, claims they were paid to set up bots to repeatedly stream Not Like Us, helping it to become a major hit. Further claims include reports that fans asking Apple’s voice assistant to play Drake’s Certified Loverboy album were unexpectedly directed to Lamar’s song instead.
This legal action follows a broader feud between Drake and Lamar, sparked by Not Like Us earlier this year. Although Universal has denied the accusations, stating that fans choose what they want to listen to, Drake’s legal team maintains that this manipulation harmed his economic interests. The petition is a precursor to a full lawsuit, with Drake’s lawyers requesting that the court preserve all relevant documentation from Universal and Spotify.
The feud comes on the heels of Lamar’s surprise album GNX, which is seen as a follow-up to Not Like Us. The track has garnered critical acclaim, earning four Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year, and securing Lamar a spot at the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show. Despite this, Lamar still trails Drake in terms of overall streaming popularity, with Drake ranking 13th and Lamar 23rd on Spotify’s global artist chart.
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