Key Takeaways:

• Drake has sued Universal Music Group (UMG) for defamation over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.”
• The lawsuit alleges that UMG published false and harmful allegations against him, leading to threats against his safety.
• Drake claims that UMG prioritized profit over his well-being, impacting his reputation and personal life.
• The legal conflict indicates deeper tensions in the ongoing feud between Drake and Lamar that has spanned over a decade.
• UMG has rejected the claims as "untrue" and accused Drake of attempting to silence artistic expression.

In a significant escalation of his ongoing feud with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar, Drake filed a federal lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) in New York, alleging defamation over the release and promotion of Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” This lawsuit, a quest for both compensatory and punitive damages, stems from the accusation that the song falsely labels Drake, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, as a "pedophile" and incites listeners to seek “vigilante justice” against him.

Drake's suit criticizes UMG for prioritizing corporate profit amid serious allegations that he claims threaten his safety and family’s well-being. The lawsuit cites specific incidents linked to the song's release, including an armed drive-by shooting at his Toronto home and multiple attempted break-ins, thereby emphasizing the dangers posed by the inflammatory content of the track. "UMG chose corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists," the lawsuit stated, highlighting the dire consequences of their actions.

The origins of the dispute trace back to a long-standing rivalry between Drake and Lamar, which heated up last year with a series of diss tracks. The latest song, “Not Like Us,” is believed to encapsulate the culmination of their decade-long feud, with Lamar’s lyrics directly challenging Drake’s character and credibility as an artist. Despite the bitter battle, Lamar is not named in Drake’s lawsuit, which focuses exclusively on UMG’s decision to promote the track.

In response, UMG has refuted all accusations, stating that Drake’s claims are "illogical” and that the company has "not and do not engage in defamation." The label also expressed its long-term investment in Drake’s success, arguing that it would be counterproductive to intentionally harm his career. They maintain that the dispute stems from a legal maneuver to silence Lamar's creative expression through litigation.

The lawsuit follows previous legal challenges wherein Drake sought records from UMG and Spotify concerning marketing strategies for Lamar's music, which he claimed were designed to artificially inflate its popularity at his expense. The legal dialogue around these episodes illustrates the fraught landscape of the music industry, where artists grapple with complex relationships with their labels and each other.

This ongoing legal battle marks a pivotal moment in both Drake's career and the relationship he has with his longtime label. As the case unfolds, it is poised to have significant implications for the dynamics of artist-label relationships and the broader music industry. The dispute emphasizes and reframes the narrative around what constitutes artistic expression versus exploitation in an era where social media and public perception can dramatically alter an artist's career trajectory. For more details, visit BBC and AP News.