by Cedric “BIG CED” Thornton
November 26, 2024
The Canadian accuses the companies of artificially inflating the numbers for the diss track
The conflict between Drake and Kendrick Lamar was taken off the streets and into the courtroom. The Canadian recording artist has taken his label and a streaming service to court, accusing them of inflating Lamar's anti-him dissident track “Not Like Us.”
According to Billboard, Aubrey Drake Graham filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, claiming the two companies conspired to artificially inflate Lamar's song “Not Like Us.” The lawsuit was filed Nov. 25 in a Manhattan courtroom. Drake filed the lawsuit under his company Frozen Moments LLC, accusing UMG of creating an illegal “program” that used multiple factors, including bots, payola and other methods, to make Lamar's song a successful record.
“UMG did not rely on coincidences or even ordinary business practices,” the documents say. “Instead, a campaign was launched to manipulate and overload streaming services and airwaves.”
Lawyers for the “October's Very Own” artist have stated that UMG's actions in this matter violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
UMG responded to the lawsuit by rejecting the allegation. UMG distributes both Drake and Lamar. Drake was initially signed to Young Money, which was distributed by the music company, and is now recording directly to Republic Records. Lamar has since been signed by TDE, distributed by Interscope and is now available under the label via his own imprint pgLang.
“The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,” the company said in a statement sent to the media outlet. “We apply the highest ethical principles in our marketing and advertising campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this preliminary motion can obscure the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
Spotify did not comment, but was accused of helping with the “plan.”
Drake's lawyers allege that UMG charged Spotify discounted royalties so they could recommend “Not Like Us” when users searched for “unrelated songs and artists.” They also say that UMG paid Influencer to push the song in the superstar battle against Drake's dissident records. Lawyers also say swarms of bots were used to fraudulently inflate the numbers.
“UMG… conspired with and paid currently unknown parties to use 'bots' to artificially increase the distribution of 'Not Like Us' and deceive consumers into believing the song is more popular than it is was reality.”
Apple was also accused of using Siri to “intentionally” direct users to Kendrick's song, but they were not named in the lawsuit.
“Online sources reported that when users asked Siri to play the album 'Certified Lover Boy.' [Drake]Siri instead played 'Not Like Us,' which contains the lyrics 'certified pedophile,' an accusation against Drake,” the rapper's lawyers wrote.
“Not Like Us” was so popular and beloved that the record was nominated for multiple Grammys.
Another report from Loren Lorosa, reportedly from a source in Drake's camp, states that the main reason for the lawsuit is the Canadian rapper's current negotiations with UMG. He believes that the money allocated for Lamar's songs was partly financed by Drake himself, through the money he earned for the label. He's in his feelings because he thinks the label doesn't treat him like a big star.
I've been trying to understand why Drake would file this lawsuit…
⚠️A source near Drakes Camp tells me…
Drake's side decided to file this lawsuit not just because of the song “Not Like Us.” It's about more than just the song, which is why Drake is suing the label… pic.twitter.com/egMQAkn8sd
— BROWN GIRL GRINDING⭐️ (@LorenLorosa) November 26, 2024
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