Drake's record label files to dismiss rapper's ‘misguided' lawsuit over ‘Not Like Us' lyrics
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy
Universal Music Group Recordings Inc. has filed a motion to dismiss Drake's defamation lawsuit over the recording label's release of Kendrick Lamar's hit track 'Not Like Us.'
In January, Drake accused UMG — which he is also signed to — of spreading the 'false and malicious narrative' that he is a pedophile with the release of Lamar's song, which includes the lyrics: 'Say, Drake, I hear you like em' young.'
Lamar is not named in the lawsuit; however, Drake additionally claimed that UMG knew the accusations were false but chose corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists.
Branding Drake's lawsuit a 'misguided attempt to salve his wounds' in a new filing seen by The Independent, UMG requested the rapper's complaint be 'dismissed without prejudice.'
'Plaintiff, one of the most successful recording artists of all time, lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated. Instead of accepting the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be, he has sued his own record label in a misguided attempt to salve his wounds,' reads the motion filed to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
It goes on to recount the details of Drake and Lamar's infamous rap battle, which kicked off in the spring of 2024.
Drake (left) has sued Universal Music Group for defamation over its release of Kendrick Lamar's hit track 'Not Like Us'
( Getty Images )
'Over the course of approximately two months, they exchanged increasingly vitriolic and incendiary 'diss tracks,' sometimes responding within hours of each other. Drake encouraged the feud,' UMG claimed.
'For example, when he felt that Lamar was taking too long to respond, Drake released a second recording in which he goaded Lamar to continue the public rap battle. Lamar did just that, and collectively Drake and Lamar released a total of nine tracks taking aim at each other. Multiple commentators declared Lamar to be the 'winner' of the battle.'
The filing further states that 'Drake has been pleased to use UMG's platform to promote tracks leveling similarly incendiary attacks at Lamar, including, most significantly, that Lamar engaged in domestic abuse [in his song 'Family Matters'].'
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up
'But now, after losing the rap battle, Drake claims that 'Not Like Us' is defamatory. It is not,' it continued.
It argues that because Drake's lawsuit is almost entirely focused on 'Not Like Us,' it 'disregards the other Drake and Lamar diss tracks that surround 'Not Like Us' as well as the conventions of the diss track genre, and, thus, critically ignores the context of the dispute.'
Drake's lawyers denied The Independent's request for comment
In February, Drake settled a separate lawsuit against iHeartMedia, in which he alleged that the Texas-based radio network had received illegal payments from UMG to boost radio airplay for 'Not Like Us.'
The Canadian rapper had similarly sued UMG, claiming it used a network of bots, in conjunction with a so-called pay-to-play scheme, to 'manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves' with 'Not Like Us.' He later dropped the suit.
'The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,' a UMG spokesperson said in a statement at the time. 'We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Festival fans devastated as headlining rapper pulls out of All Points East days before show
Writing online, fans shared their disappointment after learning of this update bowing out Festival fans devastated as headlining rapper pulls out of All Points East days before show Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MUSIC fans have been left devastated as a headlining rapper pulled out of All Points East - just days ahead of their show. This year's festival runs from August 15 to August 24, in London's Victoria Park. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Popular rapper Doechii has pulled out of All Points East Credit: Getty 4 Festival goers have been left disappointed over not seeing the star perform Credit: Getty 4 A social media post revealed Doechii has pulled out Credit: Getty Originally, US rapper Doechii had been expected to perform on Saturday. The festival announced on Instagram that the 27-year-old Grammy winner had pulled out. They penned: "We're very sorry to announce that Doechii will no longer be performing at her upcoming shows. "She is an incredible artist and, like all of her fans, we were hugely excited to see her on stage. Read more on Rappers FESTIVAL CHAOS Drake fans left furious as rapper ENDS Wireless 2025 set after just 40 mins "All Points East has an amazing line-up including RAYE, Tyla, JADE Jyoty, Nao and many more." The post concluded by saying "it's set to be a truly unforgettable day." Writing online, fans shared their disappointment about the this update. One said: "I was so excited to see her on my birthday." Another added: "Waited since Jan to be disappointed last min." A third said: "I came all the way from another continent and was so excited to see her." Taylor Swift's reaction to former enemy Katy Perry nearly kissing Doechii during VMAs performance caught on camera While a fourth chimed in: "Nah are you joking????" Earlier this year, Doechii fans were left confused when the star's Glastonbury performance was mysteriously missing from iPlayer. Doechii headlined the West Holts Stage near the end of Day 4 of Glastonbury 2025. Taking to a Reddit forum at the time, one asked: "Anyone know why the Doechii performance isn't on iPlayer? "I heard she killed it so I wanted to go back and watch but I'm not seeing it." Another replied: "Highly disappointed - her set was absolutely incredible and was the first one I was going to watch back at home!" Someone else claimed: "The artist has a right to veto it if they want. "Maybe it's that? Happens sometimes."
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Legendary '90s sitcom rumored for reboot with original cast and a VERY surprising twist
One of the original stars of the popular '90s sitcom Family Matters is working on a reboot of the series... but it comes with a surprising twist. Bryton James, who played Richie Crawford on the show, has revealed that he is currently working on updating Family Matters by turning it into an animated series. The actor, 39, told Entertainment Weekly that his plan involves 'taking the old episodes and modernizing them and kind of starting from scratch for the new generation.' While the animated reboot has yet to be officially greenlit, James has already found a production company to finance the project. He also said that the original cast are on board for the project, including breakout star Jaleel White. 'It's sitting in Warner Bros.' hands right now… That plan is still kind of floating around out there, and I'm still trying to pursue it,' he said. Family Matters premiered in 1989 and went on to become one of the most successful shows of the '90s. It reached over 26 million viewers at its peak and won a slew of awards, including three NAACP Image Awards for White's role as Steve Urkel. White, 48, was just 12 when he landed the role of the geeky Urkel, which was originally supposed to be a fleeting guest role lasting one episode. The Urkel character quickly became so popular that he was promoted to a series regular and eventually the central character of the sitcom. In his memoir Growing Up Urkel, White revealed that he was told by network executives to wear loose-fitting jeans 'to hide his bulge' once he turned 20. The actor said he was growing out of the character by Season 8, but the network still wanted to keep the show going. White claimed TV executives told him, 'Let's get rid of the suspenders. Lower his pants, too.' He said the execs added, 'Oh and... it's getting a bit uncomfortable watching him in tight jeans. There's a, uh... bulge.' Along with the suspenders and tight pants, one of Urkel's trademarks was his high-pitched voice, which, as he got older, became 'physically painful' to recreate. The pain was so intense that he even considered leaving the show that made him a star, though he ultimately stayed through all nine seasons before it went off the air in 1998. He also revealed in 2021 that his co-stars didn't handle his growing fame too well. 'I didn't see how I was stepping on anybody's toes, [or] taking anybody's shine,' White revealed to TVOne's Uncensored in 2021. 'It's very important that I say this: I was not very well welcomed to the cast at all,' he alleged. 'And I don't need to rehash that with the adults over and over again. They know what it is,' he insisted.
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Iconic singer, 81, looking at 'all legal remedies' after son's elder abuse claim
Gladys Knight is considering legal options after her son, Shanga Hankerson, branded her tour schedule 'detrimental' to her health. The 81-year-old legend is set to resume her Queens Tour in the US next month and has insisted she is 'healthy and happy' despite her son's claims. Hankerson, 49, alleged that Knight's husband William McDowell — who is 33 years her junior — was mentally and financially abusing her. He told The Shade Room: 'I don't want my mom out on tour on a tour bus wondering where she's at.' After this, Hankerson claimed he had filed a complaint with North Carolina's Department of Human Services and that an investigation is underway. Knight hit back at this and reassured worried fans that her health and the tour had been 'misrepresented'. 'I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, right?' she told The Independent. 'I'm healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months. I'm excited to get back on the road with my sisters and on stage with The Queens Tour. See you soon.' She told People she had been enjoying her time touring and was 'excited' to get back on the road for the autumn dates. However, Hankerson claimed that her memory is becoming a problem and that this touring is 'detrimental' to his mother. 'I did my best to give [McDowell] the space to play the role of husband and do what was in my mom's best interest, and he has not done that,' he alleged. 'Why is she working? Why is she in this situation where she's being made to believe that she has to work like this? That's really my issue with it.' The disagreement could escalate into a lawsuit as Knight's publicist said the James Bond singer was looking into 'any and all legal remedies' for his 'defamatory comments'. They also alleged that he 'has had no substantial contact with her'. Hankerson retorted that he is 'absolutely' ready to take this to court to make sure he can 'really take care' of his mother. 'This has nothing to do with money for me,' he insisted. 'I'm trying to get her to stop working.' Knight and McDowell married in 2001 after three months of dating but had known each other for around a decade. After releasing some tracks together, the couple regularly appear on red carpets together, including when she was awarded at the Kennedy Centre Honours, AMAs, Billboard Music Awards and BET Awards. More Trending Knight previously stated to Closer that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren 'love [McDowell] to death'. She is mum to three children, having welcomed Jimmy and Kenya in the early 60s with first husband James Newman, who she split with in 1973. Then she married Barry Hankerson, who is Shanga's father, the following year, but they broke up in 1979. Knight, known for hits like I Heard It Through the Grapevine and Midnight Train to Georgia, is touring throughout this year with Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
