Drake escalates legal fight with UMG, alleging defamation and character assassination via Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ Super Bowl show and Grammys.
Drake’s legal saga with Universal Music Group (UMG) just hit a new octave. The rapper, never one to shy away from a headline, has filed an amended complaint in his defamation lawsuit against his own label, and it’s a doozy.
At the heart of it? Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show and some Grammy wins that Drake claims were weaponized to “assassinate” his character. Yeah, you read that right. According to Drake, the whole thing was a calculated move to paint him as a pedophile in front of millions. And now, the legal gloves are off.
Let’s back up for a second. This all started with Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” a song that didn’t just throw shade—it hurled a whole eclipse. In it, Lamar calls Drake a “certified pedophile,” a line that Drake has vehemently denied and labeled as defamatory.
Back in January, Drake sued UMG, accusing the label of promoting the song to deliberately trash his reputation. UMG, for their part, called the lawsuit “baseless” and warned it could stifle artistic freedom. But Drake’s not backing down. In fact, he’s doubling down.
In his amended complaint, Drake’s legal team is pointing fingers at two massive cultural moments: Kendrick’s Super Bowl Halftime Show and the Grammy wins for “Not Like Us.” According to the filing, the Super Bowl performance was “orchestrated to assassinate the character of another artist”—that artist being Drake, of course.
The complaint goes on to say that the halftime show and the Grammy accolades “introduced new listeners to the Recording, causing even more people to be duped into believing that Drake was a pedophile.” Ouch. It’s not every day you see a lawsuit throw around words like “assassinate” in reference to a halftime show, but here we are.
Drake’s lawyers are arguing that UMG knew the allegations were false but pushed the song anyway, all in the name of profit. They claim the label’s actions have done serious damage to Drake’s rep and career.
And let’s be real, in the court of public opinion, a claim like that sticks, whether it’s true or not. Drake’s team is essentially saying UMG turned a blind eye to the fallout because the cash was rolling in.
UMG, meanwhile, is firing back with both barrels. In a statement, they didn’t just deny the allegations—they went full scorched earth. “Drake, unquestionably one of the world’s most accomplished artists and with whom we’ve enjoyed a 16-year successful relationship, is being misled by his legal representatives into taking one absurd legal step after another,” the label said.
They even threw in a warning: “Be careful what you wish for.” It’s like a legal mic drop, and it’s clear UMG isn’t about to let this slide. They’re also hinting that Drake’s lawsuit could have a chilling effect on creative expression, which is a pretty big card to play in the music biz.
So, where does this leave us? Well, the lawsuit is still in its early stages, and it’s already shaping up to be a heavyweight bout. Drake’s amended complaint adds fuel to the fire, focusing on how the Super Bowl and the Grammys—two of the biggest platforms in entertainment—were used to amplify what he calls a smear campaign.
Whether or not the courts will see it that way remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: this is about more than just a diss track. It’s about reputation, power, and the blurred lines between art and personal attack.
And let’s not forget the backstory here. Drake and Kendrick have been trading barbs for years, but “Not Like Us” took things to a whole new level. The song didn’t just go viral—it became a cultural moment, especially after Kendrick performed it at the Super Bowl.
Now, with Grammy wins under its belt, the track’s reach is undeniable. But Drake’s not having it. He’s fighting back, and he’s using every legal tool at his disposal to do it.
As this legal drama unfolds, it’s worth keeping an eye on what it could mean for the industry. If Drake wins, it could set a precedent for how labels handle diss tracks and the artists involved.
If UMG comes out on top, it might embolden labels to push the envelope even further. Either way, this is one lawsuit that’s got the music world watching closely.
For now, though, it’s a standoff. Drake’s throwing punches, UMG’s dodging and weaving, and the rest of us are just here for the spectacle. Because when two titans like Drake and Kendrick clash, and a label like UMG gets caught in the middle, you know it’s going to be one hell of a show.
Source The Hollywood Reporter
