Drake has escalated his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar to a legal battleground, filing a petition in New York Supreme Court this past Monday. The Canadian rapper accuses Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify of constructing a scheme to artificially boost the success of Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” Drake claims that UMG engaged in unlawful tactics to ensure that the Lamar song achieved significant traction on streaming platforms, resulting in record-breaking streaming numbers and a couple of weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100.
In his court filing, Drake contends that UMG’s actions were motivated by a desire for profits at the expense of his own music. He alleges that UMG used unethical methods to generate higher listener numbers for “Not Like Us” on both Spotify and radio. Drake is requesting the court to mandate the companies to provide evidence related to his accusations through a process known as pre-action discovery, which would aid him in preparing a legal complaint.
Drake’s LLC, Frozen Moments, is named as the petitioner, with Drake identified as its manager in the Florida Division of Corporations. UMG has publicly denied Drake’s allegations, asserting that they maintain high ethical standards in their marketing. A representative from Spotify opted not to comment.
Among the claims made by Drake is the assertion that UMG offered Spotify a licensing rate 30% lower than usual to promote “Not Like Us,” alongside accusations of conspiracy involving purchasing bots to mislead consumers regarding the song’s popularity.
Despite achieving an impressive 914 million plays on Spotify, “Not Like Us” has not compared to Lamar’s other popular tracks, with “Humble.” having amassed 2.4 billion streams. Recent data indicates that Drake ranked as the fourth most-streamed artist on Spotify last year, while Lamar was absent from the top ten.
Drake’s petition also highlights alleged pay-to-play schemes used by UMG to enhance radio play for “Not Like Us,” which is equated to payola. Furthermore, he claims the company attempted to conceal these practices by terminating employees seen as sympathetic to him.
Notably, the rivalry between Drake and Lamar stretches back to 2013 when Lamar’s verse on the Big Sean track “Control” called out several prominent rappers, including Drake. The feud has recently intensified with the release of “Not Like Us,” which features pointed criticisms directed at Drake. Both artists received nominations for Billboard Music Awards and are competing in various categories, while Lamar’s track has also garnered five Grammy nominations this year.
In the backdrop of this legal and artistic conflict, it’s crucial to acknowledge how rivalries in the music industry, like that of Drake and Kendrick Lamar, can be productive. Such competitions often lead to innovative and impactful music, and listeners benefit from the heightened creativity that arises from these tensions.
In summary, while the animosity between Drake and Lamar is currently expressed through court allegations, this ongoing rivalry has the potential to produce compelling musical outcomes that engage and excite their fan bases.