Drake Takes Legal Action Against UMG Over Defamation in Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’

In a lawsuit filed against UMG Recordings, Inc. on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Drake is accusing the music giant of defamation related to Kendrick Lamar’s track “Not Like Us.” The Canadian rapper and actor claims that the label’s involvement in publishing and promoting the song has fueled false allegations about him, leading to potential harm to his reputation.

The controversy traces back to May 2024 when Drake’s security guard was shot during an attempted break-in at his Toronto estate. Drake alleges that the attacks were a result of UMG’s campaign to capitalize on Lamar’s diss track, which he claims falsely accuses him of being a pedophile. Drake asserts that the label prioritized corporate profits over his safety, knowing that the allegations in the song were false.

This legal battle forms part of an ongoing feud between Drake and Lamar, which escalated in 2024 with a series of diss tracks and counter-attacks between the two rap giants. Drake’s lawsuit is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. However, Lamar, who has risen to major prominence with the track and was recently announced as the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show performer, is not named as a defendant.

UMG has firmly rejected the accusations, stating that the claim is illogical and that the label does not engage in defamation. They argue that Drake himself has long engaged in similar “rap battles” as a form of creative expression and assert their commitment to defending both their reputation and the rights of artists.

As the lawsuit continues to unfold, the fallout from this battle within the music industry remains one to watch, with high stakes not only for the parties involved but for the broader discourse around creative freedom, public image, and corporate responsibility.