A Timeline of Drake's Legal Actions Following Kendrick Lamar's Release of ‘Not Like Us
Since Kendrick Lamar dropped his diss track "Not Like Us," Drake has taken legal action against various entities, including Universal Music Group and Spotify. Here's a breakdown of the timeline.
When Kendrick Lamar released “Not Like Us” in the spring of 2024, few could have foreseen that what began as a typical rap feud would evolve into one of the most dramatic conflicts in both hip-hop history and the music industry’s legal landscape. What started as subtle jabs and diss tracks between Drake and Lamar quickly escalated into a full-blown war of words, and eventually, a high-profile legal battle.
Drake, who had previously kept things relatively low-key, responded to Lamar’s diss track with several songs, including “Push Ups,” “Taylor Made Freestyle,” and “Family Matters.” Lamar, in turn, countered with cuts like “Euphoria,” “6:16 in L.A.,” and “Meet the Grahams.” But it wasn’t until Lamar’s smash hit “Not Like Us” — which included controversial lyrics accusing Drake of being a “certified pedophile” — that things took a dramatic turn. That’s when Drake decided to take his grievances to court, beginning a series of legal filings aimed at Universal Music Group (UMG), Spotify, and iHeartRadio.
Here’s a rundown of the major events in Drake’s escalating legal battle since the release of “Not Like Us.”
Nov. 25, 2024: Drake Accuses UMG and Spotify of Inflating Kendrick’s Streams
The first signs of Drake’s legal response emerged just before Thanksgiving 2024. The rapper filed a pre-action motion in a New York court, accusing Universal Music Group (UMG) — the label with which he has been signed his entire career — of manipulating streams for “Not Like Us.” Drake alleged that UMG had used bots, payola, and other tactics to artificially inflate the track’s popularity, misleading listeners into thinking the song was more successful than it actually was.
Drake’s legal team claimed that UMG’s actions were motivated by Interscope executives’ desire to boost the financial success of Lamar's project, furthering their own profits. According to the filing, Drake had attempted to resolve the issue with UMG privately but was met with resistance. He alleged that the label even fired employees who appeared loyal to him.
Nov. 25, 2024: UMG Denies Allegations
In response, UMG denied all accusations, calling them "offensive and untrue." A spokesperson for the company stated, “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.” Spotify, at the time, declined to comment on the accusations.
Nov. 26, 2024: Drake Files Defamation Suit Against UMG
The very next day, Drake escalated his legal actions by filing a defamation claim in Texas court. In this new filing, he accused UMG of allowing the release of the song “Not Like Us,” which allegedly contained false accusations that Drake was a pedophile. Additionally, Drake named iHeartRadio in a “pay-to-play” scheme to promote the song, claiming that the release of “Not Like Us” was part of a larger effort to damage his reputation for financial gain.
Drake’s legal team argued that UMG had the power to refuse the song’s release or demand edits, but chose not to, knowing full well the harm it could cause to Drake’s character.
Dec. 20, 2024: Spotify Responds to Drake’s Allegations
Spotify responded to Drake’s claims nearly a month later, rejecting the accusations as “false,” “far-fetched,” and “speculative.” The streaming service’s legal team criticized Drake for bypassing the usual legal procedures and attempting to gain information prematurely through a pre-action discovery request.
Dec. 20, 2024: Drake Fires Back at Spotify
Shortly after Spotify’s response, Drake’s legal team fired back, accusing the company of distancing itself from UMG’s alleged manipulation practices. They reiterated their belief that if Spotify and UMG had nothing to hide, they should have no problem complying with discovery requests.
Jan. 14, 2025: Drake Withdraws New York Lawsuit
After a couple of months of silence, Drake withdrew his New York lawsuit against UMG and Spotify on Jan. 14, 2025. The withdrawal was “without costs to any party,” signaling that Drake was scaling back some of his legal efforts. However, his Texas defamation suit against UMG and iHeartRadio remained active.
Jan. 15, 2025: Drake Files Defamation Lawsuit Against UMG
The very next day, Drake took further action by filing a defamation lawsuit in Manhattan federal court. He accused UMG of promoting “false and malicious” claims that he is a pedophile, a narrative he claimed has endangered his safety. Citing a drive-by shooting at his Toronto home that left a security guard injured, Drake's legal team argued that UMG’s reckless promotion of the song created a dangerous situation for the artist.
The lawsuit stressed that it was not intended to target Kendrick Lamar directly but rather to hold UMG accountable for its role in spreading false allegations. Drake’s legal team asserted that UMG’s actions were solely for profit, at the expense of his reputation and well-being.
Jan. 15, 2025: UMG Responds to Drake’s Lawsuit
In a statement issued to Billboard, UMG firmly denied the allegations made in Drake’s defamation lawsuit, emphasizing their long-standing relationship with the artist and the company’s commitment to ethical practices. UMG also defended their role in distributing Lamar’s music, calling the ongoing legal battle an attempt by Drake to suppress creative expression in rap battles.
UMG’s response highlighted the company’s significant investment in Drake’s career and suggested that his lawsuit was more about seeking damages than addressing genuine defamation.
As this legal battle continues to unfold, the music industry and hip-hop fans alike are watching closely to see how the dispute will be resolved and how it might affect the relationship between these two massive figures in music.
