Drake files allegations against Universal Music and Kendrick Lamar for inflating his Spotify figures
The Toronto rapper claims the label boosted plays of the beef track dedicated to him by the Compton native, at the height of their feud.
Drake and Kendrick Lamar
Canadian rapper Drake filed allegations against Universal Music Group (UMG) and rapper Kendrick Lamar in New York on Monday. According to what Drake and his firm, Frozen Moments LLC, claim, the label inflated the play counts and success of Kendrick Lamar's track 'Not Like Us' on Spotify.
Drake and Kendrick Lamar have maintained an ongoing rivalry, often referred to as a "beef" in the music industry, lasting over a year. In this feud, Kendrick Lamar allegedly targeted Drake with the song "Not Like Us," widely interpreted as a taunt to Drake. According to Drake, Universal Music Group (UMG), the distributor for both artists, has taken Kendrick Lamar's side in the dispute.
According to AP, the petition filed in a New York court calls for the preservation and disclosure of information that could serve as evidence in a potential lawsuit against UMG. It is not a lawsuit, but rather a preliminary step to a possible future legal action against said subjects.
The court filing alleges that the record label "launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate streaming services and the airwaves with a song, 'Not Like Us,' in order to make that song go viral. It mentions the use of bots and "pay-per-play arrangements."
The company and Spotify "have long had a symbiotic business relationship" and alleges that UMG offered Spotify special rates for licensing the song. Along with this, Drake also alleged that UMG fired those employees loyal to Drake in his feud with Kendrick Lamar.
Universal Music Group said in a statement picked up by AP that the "suggestion that UMG would do anything to harm any of its artists is offensive and false. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action presentation can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear."
Rappers' beef
For his part, Drake called Kendrick Lamar a puppet of his music producers and agents, in addition to accusing him of domestic violence.
The feud between the two musicians escalated in 2023, when Drake and J. Cole released the track 'First Person Shooter.' Since then, the specialized media claim that this beef is the biggest in recent years between two big names in the music industry.
According to some outlets, Kendrick Lamar is perceived to have achieved a Pyrrhic victory in his rivalry with Drake, partly due to being chosen as the headliner for the upcoming Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.
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