Drake made headlines when he expressed intent to sue Universal Music Group and Spotify for allegedly inflating the popularity of Kendrick Lamar‘s diss track, ‘Not Like Us.’
The MC sparked further discourse when he filed another pre-action suit against the industry giant in Texas. This time centered on allegations of defamation.
Adding to the melee, Drake dropped the initial pursuit and pivoted to formally filing a federal defamation suit against UMG for specific jabs Lamar made on the track.
Now, the label juggernaut (which is home to both rappers) is clapping back with a legal move to have the entire Texas case tossed.
Full story below…
This week, UMG submitted a 144-page motion to dismiss the case, which they assert was filed in the wrong state in the first place.
Per the filing, UMG argues that Drizzy (who is signed to their Republic Records imprint):
“…resorted to strategic legal retaliation (in a move to )pressure them to limit the distribution (of Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us).
The [Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991] protects parties from this exact kind of legal retaliation by providing an expedited process to summarily dismiss legal actions, including petitions for pre-suit depositions brought under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 202, that are designed and intended to intimidate and punish people for exercising their First Amendment rights.”
UMG adds that the star’s petition should be tossed because he “did not file his petition in a ‘proper court’” as no reps for the company reside in Bexar County – a requirement of state law.
A hearing on the matter has been set for January 28.
Update 📣
UMG has submitted a 144-page motion to dismiss Drake’s Texas petition requesting pre-lawsuit depositions for UMG and iHeartMedia.A hearing for the request is scheduled for January 28 in Bexar County, Texas pic.twitter.com/mPbxbEMrWR
— The OVO Docket (@OVODocket) January 23, 2025
Drake is basically trying to get out of his contract
Just read dickhead lamar’s lyrics
He calling Drake a child m*******
A certified p********…
Drake should keep his foot on they neck. His baby mom is over 30 years old.
I agree, that’s too much to just ignore.
And the song is annoying as f
The angry short man should stop acting like a gangster with that fake bouch accent, Drake can KO him in 5 sec 😂
Kendrick mad because he short and a ASHY FLOP !! He eating off Drake name and the stadium tickets ain’t selling !!!
Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor
Drake like em young
hide ya lil sister from him”
people should delete this song immediately
dickhead Lamar must be a pervert himself..
I see where he’s coming from, but he could have dealt with this through his music. Obviously, he lost to Kendrick…..it’s probs the first L he’s had in his career. This formal lawsuit is just cringe and desperate. He could have done an interview to talk about this. Release new music, and move on from this. It’s bizarre how one feud can really divert one’s career completely off track.
Thats the difference between the both of them Kendrick the king is so unbothered by this whole thing yet your boy Drake is crying like the b**** he is.. Superbowl he will be buried..RIP DRAKE AND YOUR ASSHOLE FANS!!!!!