Drake has accused Universal Music Group (UMG) of pulling some sneaky moves to make Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, Not Like Us, blow up when it dropped. In a new legal filing shared by Rolling Stone, Drake’s team claims UMG used bots and shady tactics to pump up the track’s popularity during a heated feud between the two artists.
This filing isn’t a lawsuit (yet). It’s more like a request for info—what lawyers call a “pre-action disclosure.” Drake’s company, Frozen Moments, alleges that UMG didn’t play fair but instead used questionable strategies to make Kendrick’s song dominate on streaming platforms and the airwaves.
According to Drake’s lawyers, this wasn’t just typical music promotion. “UMG launched a campaign to manipulate streaming numbers and flood the airwaves,” they said, accusing the label of false advertising, deceptive practices, and even breaking laws designed to stop organized crime (yes, that serious).
The filing claims UMG paid undisclosed parties to boost the track’s reach. A “whistleblower” reportedly revealed on a podcast that they were paid $2,500 via Zelle to help spread the track. The whistleblower also said Spotify is especially easy to manipulate because of weak bot protection.
But it doesn’t stop there. Drake’s team alleges that UMG even paid Apple to make Siri direct users to Kendrick’s diss track instead of Drake’s Certified Lover Boy. A report by Vibe allegedly backs this up, saying Siri would play Kendrick’s song when asked for Drake’s music.
And there’s more. The filing accuses Kendrick’s label of secretly paying influencers to promote Not Like Us on social media without telling anyone they were being paid. It also claims UMG fired employees who seemed to support Drake.
UMG, however, says these claims are ridiculous. A spokesperson for the label called the accusations “offensive and untrue,” adding, “We follow the highest ethical standards. Fans decide what music they want to hear.”
This all comes as Kendrick’s new album, GNX, dropped last Friday, along with the video for his track Squabble Up. Meanwhile, Drake still has 10 million more monthly listeners on Spotify than Kendrick, despite Not Like Us being nominated for several Grammys.
Interestingly, UMG has also been busy fighting another lawsuit from Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit. He’s accused the label of hiding royalties from artists. UMG responded last week, calling his claims “fiction” and asking for the case to be dismissed.
So, will Drake’s accusations against UMG lead to something bigger? For now, it’s just the beginning of what could be a major industry drama. Stay tuned!
