Drake. Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images.
A judge in New York City has denied a motion from Universal Music Group (UMG) to delay discovery in the defamation lawsuit brought against the label by Drake. This ruling will allow the rapper's legal team to begin "deposing key executives and requesting document production," according to a statement sent by Drake's representative. “Now it's time to see what UMG was so desperately trying to hide," Drake's lead attorney Michael Gottlieb said in the release.
Judge Jeanette Vargas ruled on April 2 that UMG's attorneys had not displayed that a stay was justified in this case, reports Matthew Russell of Inner City Press. However, she ruled that the plaintiff's request for six months to carry out discovery "seems aggressive" and requested a new proposal be filed. Drake's team is currently preparing to file an amended version of its lawsuit by April 16
Drake filed his case in New York's federal court system in January, alleging that his label UMG engaged in defamation and harrassment with the release and promotion of Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us." The song, also released by UMG, contained allegations that the Canadian rapper is a pedophile; it went on to global chart success, and won five Grammy Awards including Song and Record of the Year; Lamar even performed it the Super Bowl halftime show despite the ongoing litigation, leading to the song being referenced by 2025 Oscars host Conan O'Brien.
Drake's suit alleges UMG's distribution of the track caused massive reputational harm and put him in physical danger, pointing to a shooting that took place at Drake's home in Toronto three days after the song's release. UMG responded to the lawsuit with a withering motion to dismiss insisting Drake merely "lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated." Judge Vargas set a date of June 20 for UMG to argue the motion to dismiss.
