Drake is suing Universal for defamation over “Not Like Us”

Update: 10:30 a.m. January 15

Drake is suing Universal Music Group (UMG) for defamation and harassment as part of a federal lawsuit filed in a New York court, the New York Times reports.

In the complaint, Drake alleges that UMG valed "corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists." It is also claimed that UMG "approved and published" Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us," a song "intended to convey the specific, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a pedophile" with the suggestion being that the public resort to "vigilante justice" in response.

The "Not Like Us" artwork, a picture of Drake's Toronto home illustrated with markers to designate a sexual offender in the area, is cited as an example of how his personal safety was under threat as he and Lamar exchanged diss tracks last summer. A shooting at the property took place days after the release of the song.

The complaint filed in New York today goes on to suggest that UMG, to whom both Drake and Lamar are signed, used the beef as a means of devaluing Drake's brand and "gaining leverage," increasing the likelihood of striking a future deal on terms they find more favorable more of a possibility.

Universal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier:

Drake has withdrawn the petition he raised last November accusing Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) of using illegal methods to boost Kendrick Lamar‘s diss track “Not Like Us.” Documents filed with the New York Supreme Court on Tuesday show the pre-action case is being discontinued.

The legal action was a pre-action case, a step taken before a full lawsuit and Drake's decision to drop it involves no financial cost to any of the parties involved, per the documents shared this week.

The petition detailed Drake's belief that UMG and Spotify had worked together to use “bots,” discounted licensing rates, and pay-to-play agreements to inflate the streaming numbers for Lamar’s song. The song was Lamar's killer blow in a high profile beef between the pair and featured the Compton rapper calling Drake a "pedophile" among other insults. Both artists are part of the UMG, with Drake releasing his music via Republic Records and Lamar through Interscope.

A second legal petition filed by Drake, accusing UMG of paying iHeartRadio to play "Not Like Us" and knowingly releasing a song that defamed him, remains active.