|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
FILE -
Kendrick
Lamar
performs
during
the
Festival
d’ete de
Quebec
in
Quebec
City,
Canada
on July
7, 2017.
(Photo
by Amy
Harris/Invision/AP,
File) |
| |
Drake
sues
Universal
Music
for
defamation
on
Kendrick
Lamar
diss
track
Drake
sues
Universal
Music
for
defamation
on
Kendrick
Lamar
diss
track
By
Donyell
Nicholson
Tell Us
USA News
Network
NEW YORK
- The
rivalry
between
hip-hop
heavyweights
Drake
and
Kendrick
Lamar
reached
new
heights
on
Wednesday
as Drake
filed a
defamation
lawsuit
against
Universal
Music
Group
(UMG)
over the
controversial
diss
track
“Not
Like
Us.”
The
lawsuit,
submitted
to a
federal
court in
New York
City,
claims
UMG —
the
parent
label
for both
Drake
and
Lamar —
distributed
and
promoted
the
track
despite
its
inclusion
of false
allegations
of
pedophilia
against
Drake.
The suit
alleges
the song
also
incites
vigilante
justice,
which
has led
to
real-world
consequences.
Notably,
Lamar
himself
is not
named as
a
defendant.
According
to the
filing,
“Not
Like Us”
triggered
a series
of
dangerous
incidents,
including
a
shooting
involving
Drake’s
security
guard,
two
attempted
break-ins
at his
Toronto
residence,
and an
onslaught
of
online
harassment.
The suit
contends
these
events
have
damaged
Drake’s
reputation
and
diminished
his
brand’s
market
value
ahead of
critical
contract
renegotiations
with
UMG.
“This
case is
not
about
the
artist
behind
‘Not
Like
Us,’”
the
lawsuit
states,
referring
to
Lamar.
“It is
entirely
about
UMG —
the
music
corporation
that
knowingly
published,
promoted,
and
profited
from
false
and
harmful
allegations.”
The
lawsuit
further
alleges
that UMG
exploited
the
song’s
sensational
content
purely
for
financial
gain.
“UMG
recognized
the
Recording’s
incendiary
nature
as a
lucrative
opportunity,”
the suit
claims.
It also
accuses
UMG of
using
its
industry
influence
to
secure a
performance
of “Not
Like Us”
at the
upcoming
Super
Bowl
halftime
show,
where
Lamar is
slated
as the
headline
act.
Drake’s
legal
team is
seeking
a jury
trial
and
unspecified
damages.
The
lawsuit
echoes
prior
accusations
that UMG
manipulated
streaming
service
metrics
to
inflate
the
song’s
popularity.
Despite
the
controversy,
“Not
Like Us”
has
earned
five
Grammy
nominations,
including
Record
of the
Year and
Song of
the
Year.
UMG
issued a
swift
rebuttal
on
Wednesday,
calling
Drake’s
accusations
baseless.
“These
allegations
are
false,”
UMG’s
statement
read.
“The
idea
that we
would
intentionally
tarnish
the
reputation
of any
artist —
let
alone
Drake,
one of
our most
successful
partners
— is
absurd.
We have
invested
heavily
in his
career
and
worked
tirelessly
to
contribute
to his
unprecedented
success.”
The
company
also
accused
Drake of
using
the
lawsuit
as a
tool to
suppress
creative
freedom.
“Drake
has
historically
embraced
the
platform
we
provided
to
engage
in the
lyrical
sparring
and
theatrical
rivalries
typical
of
hip-hop
culture.
It is
disappointing
that he
now
seeks to
weaponize
the
legal
system
to
stifle
artistic
expression
and
penalize
UMG for
its role
in
distributing
music,”
the
statement
added.
Representatives
for
Lamar
declined
to
comment.
The
ongoing
feud
between
Drake,
38, and
Lamar,
37, has
captivated
the
hip-hop
world.
Once
collaborators,
the two
artists
have
been at
odds
since
2013,
with
tensions
escalating
dramatically
over the
past
year.
Drake’s
attorneys
at
Willkie
Farr &
Gallagher
emphasize
that the
lawsuit
aims to
hold UMG
accountable
for
prioritizing
profit
over
safety.
They
point to
the
violent
incidents
at
Drake’s
home as
proof of
the harm
caused
by the
label’s
actions.
“Since
May 4,
2024,
UMG has
leveraged
its vast
resources
to
amplify
a
dangerous,
defamatory
narrative
that
endangered
Drake’s
safety
and
jeopardized
his
family,”
the law
firm’s
statement
reads.
“This
case
exposes
the
real-world
impact
of UMG’s
pursuit
of
profit
at the
expense
of its
artists’
well-being.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I
HI TECH NEWS
I
SPORTS
I
