Drake Requests Kendrick Lamar's Contract, Financials and Private Records in UMG Lawsuit
Drakecontinues his legal battle againstUniversal Music Group (UMG)over theKendrick Lamardiss track 'Not Like Us.' He is now asking for sensitive information on the Compton rapper, ranging from his contract to allegations of crime and more.
The Hollywood Reporterstates that Drizzy is attempting to persuade the court to force the record label and its chairman and CEO, Lucian Grainge, to hand over Dot's contract. He's also asking for any details and communications from Grainge regarding 'allegations of domestic violence and other crimes' supposedly committed by the pgLang head.
A copy of UMG's contract with Lamar was previously given to Drake. The redactions, however, made it 'virtually unreadable and incomprehensible.' In addition, the OVO founder is also requesting for information about Interscope's finances and the value of Dot's catalog in the last five-and-a-half years.
As per Drake, these documents are related to his accusations that UMG supported the defamatory statements made against him on 'Not Like Us' in order toincrease profits. He also claims that Grainge had a 'major role' in how UMG promoted 'Not Like Us' as the exec allegedly coaxed competition between the labels.
While Drake and Lamar are both under UMG, Lamar's contract is with Interscope Records while the former's is with Republic Records.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
11 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
UMG chief Lucian Grainge calls Drake's ‘Not Like Us' lawsuit ‘ridiculous'
Universal Music Group Chief Executive Lucian Grainge called Drake's lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar's hit diss track 'Not Like Us' a 'farcical' effort that's 'groundless and indeed ridiculous.' In a declaration letter filed Thursday night in the Southern District of New York, Grainge said that Drake's accusation that UMG (the parent label firm to both Drake and Lamar) defamed him and damaged his career 'makes no sense due to the fact that the company that I run, Universal Music Group N.V., has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Drake, including longstanding and critical financial support for his recording career, the purchase and ownership of the bulk of his recording catalog, and the purchase of his music publishing rights.' Drake signed a new deal with UMG label Republic in 2022 for a reported $400 million, and he's one of the bestselling artists of the last 20 years. Yet Interscope artist Lamar's scathing 'Not Like Us' famously capped a venomous battle between the two artists, which resulted in a pair of Grammy wins for Lamar, who performed the song at the Super Bowl halftime show. Drake's attorneys, in discovery, have recently tried to obtain UMG's contract with Lamar and information about his personal life (Drake accused Lamar of beating his partner in the song 'Family Matters'). Drake has accused UMG of both defamation and running a clandestine campaign to boost 'Not Like Us' at the expense of his own reputation and career. A notably exasperated Grainge wrote to the court that 'Given my role, I am accustomed (and unfortunately largely resigned) to personal attacks, and I further recognize that a frequent strategy of UMG's litigation opponents is to attempt to waste my and UMG's time and resources with discovery of the sort that Drake is seeking here — either in an attempt to gain media attention or in an effort to force some kind of commercial renegotiation or financial concessions.' Grainge also denied having any personal involvement in the rollout or marketing for 'Not Like Us.' 'Whilst, as part of my role, I certainly have financial oversight of and responsibility for UMG's global businesses,' he said, 'the proposition that I was involved in, much less responsible for, reviewing and approving the content of 'Not Like Us,' its cover art or music video, or for determining or directing the promotion of those materials, is groundless and indeed ridiculous.' In a separate letter to the court, UMG said that 'The premise of Drake's motion — that he could not have lost a rap battle unless it was the product of some imagined secret conspiracy going to the top of UMG's corporate structure — is absurd.'
Black America Web
12 hours ago
- Black America Web
Drake's Latest Legal Filing Digs Into Kendrick Lamar's Domestic Violence Allegations & Dave Free's Relationship To His Kids
As Kendrick Lamar embarks on his Grand National tour and Drake appears scorned on every stage he steps on during his tour with PARTYNEXTDOOR, it is clear that the battle isn't over. Plus, there's that glaring lawsuit Drake filed against UMG that fans continue to analyze. Now, Drake's legal team has filed two new motions against the record company, taking direct aim at CEO Sir Lucian Grainge and 'Not Like Us,' which, we remind you, included cover art that depicted Drake's Toronto mansion with sex offender markings. 'UMG is improperly shielding its CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge, from scrutiny in this litigation, despite his direct involvement in the publication and promotion of the defamatory recording, cover image, and video at issue,' the suit states. We care about your data. See our privacy policy. They argue that UMG can hold itself accountable since it altered the language of its filings, adjusting the level of Grainge's involvement from 'no involvement' to 'no meaningful involvement.' But the OVO boss' legal team isn't buying it, saying he's actively involved because he was at the Grammys and was pretty hyped when Lamar took home several awards. The suit reads, 'Lucian Grainge is highly likely to have relevant documents about the Recording and the 2025 Grammy Awards, as he was recorded at the Grammy Awards celebrating Kendrick Lamar's wins and high-fiving Lamar's producer and mentor as the Recording played in the background.' Drake also argues that the defamation against him is profitable for UMG because they own both—his label, Republic Records, and Lamar's Interscope. They believe this also led to a significant payout for Interscope CEO John Janick, prompting a request to review his pay structure for the past five years, including his 2024 incentives, and Lamar's catalogue valuation over the same period. 'These records will demonstrate the financial motives underlying UMG's decision to promote the defamatory recording rather than suppress it,' the filing reads. Plus, as with any court case, the lawyers are digging into past lyric censorship, as recent as his beef with Pusha T, proving they do have the power to intervene, whether it benefits the artist or to their detriment. The lawyers continue, 'Def Jam, a UMG label, intervened to remove certain verses from Pusha T's 'The Story of Adidon' that were perceived as damaging to other artists. This selective enforcement is probative of UMG's intent and actual malice here.' But it's not just Lamar's lyrics influencing the lawsuit; many of Drake's claims are being added too, as he's now formally inquiring about all allegations he's made on 'Family Matters,' like calling him a domestic abuser, and claiming that one of his kids is biologically Dave Free's. They're asking for info 'relating to allegations of domestic violence, violence against women, and/or other forms of violence committed by Kendrick Lamar Duckworth' and information about 'David Isaac Friley (a/k/a Dave Free) and his relationship with Kendrick Lamar Duckworth and Kendrick Lamar Duckworth's children.' See how social media is reacting to the latest in the Drake vs UMG case below. Drake's Latest Legal Filing Digs Into Kendrick Lamar's Domestic Violence Allegations & Dave Free's Relationship To His Kids was originally published on
Black America Web
14 hours ago
- Black America Web
Trending On The Timeline: Offset Acknowledges Mistakes; Drake Heats Up Legal Feud with UMG
Source: ione nicole thomas / IONE, VIA NICOLE THOMAS On DJ Misses' latest segment of Trending on the Timeline , two major moments grabbed attention. First, Offset took a moment of public accountability for his well-documented marital issues with Cardi B. With humility, he admitted his faults, saying, 'I messed up,' and acknowledged the importance of respecting those you care about and making amends. DJ Misses applauded Offset for addressing his mistakes publicly, noting that when issues unfold in the spotlight, addressing them openly reinforces character. While opinions online were split—ranging from cheers of support to skepticism—it was clear that Offset's transparency sparked a much-needed dialogue about growth and accountability. The second story spotlighted Drake and his intensifying defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group. Drake's legal team is escalating their demands, filing motions for 75 sets of documents, including sensitive records related to allegations of violence involving Kendrick Lamar, his close collaborator Day Free, and even Kendrick's contractual agreements with UMG. This development signals how far Drake is willing to go to back his claims and hold the label accountable. DJ Misses highlighted the growing tension, which fans and industry insiders are watching closely as it could redefine artist-label dynamics moving forward. SEE ALSO
