1. Legal Battle Deepens
Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us has entered a heated new phase. In legal filings from August 2025, Drake’s team has subpoenaed HIP-HOP contracts, incentive details, Lamar’s record deal, and internal UMG emails—seeking insight into how the song was handled despite its controversial and false claims.
2. Damning Allegations & Real-World Harm
Drake alleges that the diss track—calling him a “certified pedophile”—was promoted by UMG in a way that would make it go viral, despite knowing it was false. His lawyers insist millions perceived it as factual, which led to real-world consequences including threats and an attack on Drake’s home.
3. UMG Pushback: Just a Rap Feud?
UMG’s legal response frames the feud as “rhetorical hyperbole,” common in rap battles, not defamation. The label has filed to dismiss Drake’s suit, calling it a strategic retreat from a “rap battle he provoked.”
4. Timeline & Context
- May 2024: Not Like Us releases, launching the public feud.
- January 2025: Drake files the federal lawsuit.
- April 2025: Court orders discovery, unlocking contracts and other records.
- August 2025: Drake’s team demands access to Kendrick’s deal and UMG CEO emails.
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