Drake sues Universal Music over alleged defamation in 'Not Like Us' lyric claims

Drake filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against Universal Music Group, claiming the company put his life and reputation at risk by releasing and promoting a Kendrick Lamar diss track that he says falsely portrays him as a pedophile.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges Universal valued "corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists" by publishing and promoting Lamar's chart-topping single "Not Like Us."

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, claims the record label "approved, published, and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track" that was "intended to convey the specific, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal pedophile."

The lawsuit cites real-world consequences, including a shooting at Drake's Toronto residence days after the song's release that injured a security guard, followed by two attempted trespassing incidents. The complaint draws parallels to the "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory, referencing the song's cover art that shows Drake's home marked with indicators meant to represent registered sex offenders.

Universal Music Group responded to the lawsuit in a statement on Jan. 15, calling the claims "untrue" and "illogical" given their long-standing business relationship with Drake.

"We have invested massively in his music, and our employees around the world have worked tirelessly for many years to help him achieve historic commercial and personal financial success," the label said.

The company stated it would defend the case to protect "any artist who might directly or indirectly become a frivolous litigation target for having done nothing more than write a song."

The legal action comes amid an escalating musical feud between Drake and Lamar that began last spring, resulting in eight rapidly released songs containing personal attacks. The dispute reached its peak with "Not Like Us," which topped the Billboard singles chart and has garnered more than one billion streams on Spotify.

Michael J. Gottlieb, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, represents Drake in the lawsuit. Gottlieb's previous cases include representing the Washington pizzeria owner targeted by "Pizzagate" conspiracy theorists and election workers falsely accused by Rudolph W. Giuliani of election fraud in 2020.

The lawsuit specifically targets Universal rather than Lamar, stating, "This lawsuit is not about the artist who created 'Not Like Us.' It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false but dangerous."

Drake's legal team argues that Universal would not have maintained a business relationship with him since 2009 if they believed any allegations of sexual abuse were true. The lawsuit suggests Universal's aggressive promotion of "Not Like Us" may be linked to ongoing contract negotiations with both artists, claiming the company sought to "devalue Drake's music and brand" to gain leverage in future deal discussions.

The complaint also alleges questionable promotional practices by Universal, including "covertly offering financial incentives to third parties to deceptively stream the Recording on streaming platforms, to play the Recording on the radio, and to otherwise promote and endorse the Defamatory Material, all without ever publicly disclosing the payments."

According to the lawsuit, Drake attempted to inform Universal about the harm caused by the song, including having to remove his young son from elementary school "due to safety concerns," but was reportedly told he "would face humiliation if he brought legal action."

The legal filing follows Drake's earlier pre-litigation actions against Universal in New York and Texas state courts, which also named Spotify and iHeartMedia as potential participants in promoting "Not Like Us." Representatives for Drake withdrew the New York filing against Universal and Spotify on Tuesday in favor of the federal lawsuit. A Texas case hearing, including iHeartMedia, has been postponed until later this month.

To prove defamation as a public figure, Drake must demonstrate that false information was published, harmed his reputation, and that Universal published it, knowing it was false or with substantial doubts about its accuracy.

The dispute has not hindered the success of "Not Like Us," which has received five Grammy nominations, including record and song of the year. Lamar is scheduled to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans.

The musical conflict between Drake and Lamar, who had collaborated earlier in their careers, intensified through a series of tracks containing increasingly personal accusations. On "Family Matters," Drake questioned the paternity of one of Lamar's children and alleged domestic abuse. Lamar responded with "Meet the Grahams," comparing Drake to Harvey Weinstein, followed by "Not Like Us," which explicitly accused Drake of predatory behavior.

According to the lawsuit, Universal recently extended its contract with Lamar, while Drake's agreement is up for renegotiation this year.