In a lawsuit that’s been quietly progressing behind the scenes for months, Drake is taking intention at Universal Music Group, accusing the label of taking part in a direct position in amplifying Kendrick Lamar’s blistering diss observe “Not Like Us.” The observe—which infamously refers to Drake as a “certified pedophile”—turned an prompt cultural flashpoint and now sits on the heart of a broader authorized dispute. According to Drake’s grievance, UMG allegedly coordinated efforts to artificially enhance the music’s attain throughout main platforms, casting doubt on the label’s impartiality in considered one of hip-hop’s most explosive feuds in current reminiscence.

According to court docket paperwork filed on June 2 and made public July 14, Drake’s authorized workforce submitted a sprawling listing of 63 potential witnesses. The names embrace among the music business’s strongest figures, together with present UMG executives and longtime collaborators of Lamar. The listing alerts a sweeping inquiry into how the observe gained traction—and whether or not business infrastructure helped push it additional.

Among these named is UMG CEO Sir Lucian Grainge, who Drake’s workforce believes holds key data of inside promotional technique. Also included are Dave Free, former president of Top Dawg Entertainment, and Lamar’s longtime supervisor Anthony Saleh. Notably absent from the listing, nonetheless, is Kendrick Lamar himself.

Drake’s lawsuit widens as new album period begins

Drake can be demanding paperwork from the most important streaming platforms—together with Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, SoundCloud, Deezer, and TIDAL—in a bid to uncover whether or not UMG exerted any affect over how the observe was promoted or positioned. The discovery section extends even additional, reaching into social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and Instagram, in addition to exterior entities such because the NFL, Roc Nation, and Fox—all of which have been linked to Lamar’s efficiency on the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.

By distinction, UMG has submitted a a lot shorter witness listing: simply 9 names, amongst them each Drake and Lamar. In filings, the label’s attorneys argue that Lamar is a vital supply of knowledge, able to talking on to the artistic course of and distribution technique behind the observe and its visible rollout.

The lawsuit arrives at a pivotal second in Drake’s profession. His subsequent album, Iceman, is already producing buzz following the discharge of its first single, “What Did I Miss?”, which dropped on July 4. The document shall be his first solo effort since final yr’s For All the Dogs and his first for the reason that feud with Lamar exploded earlier this yr. Drake has but to announce a agency launch date for Iceman, although he’s instructed followers to count on the album earlier than the top of 2025. Even as authorized tensions mount, his consideration seems divided between courtroom technique and a brand new chapter in his artistic output—with each taking part in out on a worldwide stage.