​Universal Music Group respond to Drake defamation lawsuit: “It’s illogical”

Drake has filed a lawsuit against his and Kendrick Lamar’s record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), over their release of Kendrick’s 2024 diss track ‘Not Like Us’.

The rapper alleges defamation and harassment, saying that the diss track “promotes a false and malicious narrative” about him both lyrically and through the track's artwork and music video.

It comes just months after Drake issued a legal filing against both UMG and Spotify, claiming that the major label and streaming giant conspired to boost streams of ‘Not Like Us’. The petition was dropped less than 24 hours before filing the defamation lawsuit.

In the latest filing, Drake claims that the record label “approved, published and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track”.

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The lawsuit also alleges that UMG attempted to “convey the specific, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal pedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response”.

It comes amidst discussions around the use of creative and artistic expression — such as lyrics and music videos — as evidence in criminal trials, which has recently caused international debate.

In late 2023, British MPs opposed the use of lyrics as evidence on trial, backing support for Art Not Evidence, a campaign urging for "a change in the way rap music is used in serious, criminal trials”, one member told The Guardian.

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UMG has since responded to Drake’s latest filing, calling it “illogical”. A spokesperson told Music Business Worldwide: “Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist — let alone Drake — is illogical.”

“Throughout his career, Drake has intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth ‘rap battles’ to express his feelings about other artists,” they said.

“He now seeks to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist’s creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for distributing that artist’s music.”

The label said that it will “vigorously defend this litigation to protect our people and our reputation, as well as any artist who might directly or indirectly become a frivolous litigation target for having done nothing more than write a song".

[Via: Music Business Worldwide]

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter