Drake accuses Spotify of promoting Lamar’s diss track.

Drake has initiated legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, claiming they conspired to artificially inflate interest in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” while suppressing his own music.

In a petition filed in the New York Supreme Court on Monday, attorneys for Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, accused UMG and Spotify of launching a campaign to manipulate streaming services and airwaves. 

They allege the companies employed various tactics to enhance the popularity of Lamar’s song.

Drake’s lawyers stated that UMG conspired with and paid undisclosed parties to use bots to artificially inflate the reach of “Not Like Us,” misleading consumers into believing the song was more popular than it was in reality.

The petition goes on to allege that UMG paid influencers to promote “Not Like Us” on social media and established pay-to-play agreements with radio stations. 

A spokesperson for UMG responded, saying, “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. 

We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.” Spotify declined to comment.

Both Drake and Lamar have been associated with UMG throughout their careers—Drake through Republic Records and Lamar through Interscope, both of which are owned by UMG.

This petition is not a full lawsuit but a procedural step under New York law that allows Drake’s attorneys to request the court to order UMG and Spotify to preserve all relevant documents and information ahead of a potential lawsuit. 

It marks an extraordinary move in the escalating feud between the two rappers, which began with a series of diss tracks. 

In songs like “Euphoria,” “Meet the Grahams,” and “Not Like Us,” Lamar accused Drake of having sexual relationships with underage girls and fathering secret children.

In response, Drake released tracks such as “Family Matters” and “The Heart Part 6,” which accused Lamar of domestic abuse and infidelity, criticised his collaborations with Taylor Swift, and even mocked his height. Both rappers have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Drake’s petition claims that UMG reduced the licensing fees it charged Spotify in exchange for the streaming service recommending Lamar’s track to users even when they searched for unrelated songs or artists. 

It also alleges that UMG paid Apple to make its digital assistant, Siri, “purposely misdirect” users asking to listen to Drake’s songs, redirecting them instead to stream “Not Like Us.”

The petition asserts that UMG’s tactics contributed to “Not Like Us” being streamed 900 million times, making it the most-streamed diss track in Spotify’s history. 

The track holds several records, including the highest single-day streams for a hip-hop song (12.8 million) and the most streams in a week by a rapper (81.2 million).

Drake’s attorneys argue that UMG’s actions were motivated, at least in part, by the executives’ desire to maximize their profits, claiming that the success of “Not Like Us” led to increased streams of Lamar’s back catalog, financially benefiting UMG.

According to the petition, Drake has repeatedly sought to engage UMG in discussions to resolve the ongoing harm he has suffered due to their actions, but claims that the music giant has shown “no interest in taking responsibility for its misconduct.” Instead, UMG allegedly directed Drake to pursue a lawsuit against Lamar.

Drake’s attorneys also claim they have received information indicating that UMG has attempted to conceal its actions, including reportedly terminating employees associated with or perceived to be loyal to Drake.

The petition asserts that UMG has violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (commonly known as “RICO”), as well as laws related to deceptive business practices and false advertising.

For more news updates, tune in to NRG Radio or download the NRG Play App on your phone