Drake’s authorized crew claims UMG is making an attempt to keep away from public accountability for allegedly silencing, exploiting, and discarding artists.

Drake is arguing Universal Music Group (UMG) is making an attempt to dodge public accountability for what they name a sample of mistreatment towards artists following a listening to on the label’s motion to dismiss the rapper’s defamation lawsuit.

Drake’s attorneys allege UMG has lengthy prevented scrutiny by conserving its alleged misconduct behind closed doorways, however a trial would drag these actions into the sunshine.

“UMG is determined to see this case not transfer ahead as a result of the corporate can’t disguise its misconduct in a courtroom the best way it does within the boardroom,” a spokesperson for Drake advised AllHipHop. “Quickly, along with going through involved regulators and traders, the management of music’s strongest label should reply for the harm it has brought on to each artist that has been silenced, exploited, endangered or discarded.”

UMG Push For Decide To Toss Drake’s Lawsuit

Drake’s authorized crew urged a decide to let his defamation lawsuit proceed on the listening to on Monday (June 30).

The case stems from Kendrick Lamar’s diss observe “Not Like Us,” which incorporates the lyric “licensed pedophile” — a line Drake claims brought on severe reputational hurt and was amplified by UMG.

UMG’s attorneys defended the observe as a part of Hip-Hop’s custom of over-the-top lyrical sparring. “Trash-talking within the excessive,” they argued, “is just not, and shouldn’t be handled as, statements of truth.”

UMG additionally pushed again by mentioning that Drake has used equally aggressive language in his personal music and willingly engaged in a rap battle with Lamar. Neither artist appeared in courtroom.

Decide Jeannette Vargas didn’t problem a ruling however raised questions on how the common listener interprets lyrics within the style. “Who’s the abnormal listener?” she requested. “Is it somebody who’s going to catch all these references? There’s a lot specialised and nuanced to those lyrics.”

Drake’s authorized crew additionally accused UMG of manipulating streaming knowledge for “Not Like Us” through the use of bots to inflate numbers, a transfer they are saying hurts all artists by decreasing per-stream payouts.

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