In a dramatic turn of events, Drake has initiated a second legal petition against Universal Music Group (UMG), claiming that the company failed to prevent the release of Kendrick Lamar’s controversial diss track, “Not Like Us.” According to reports from Billboard, Drake asserts that the song contains defamatory statements that harm his reputation by falsely accusing him of being a sex offender and engaging in other criminal sexual acts.

The filing, made in Bexar County, details allegations that UMG has not only allowed this defamatory content to circulate but also engaged in unethical promotional practices, including funneling payments to iHeartRadio in a pay-to-play scheme. This latest action follows a prior petition in New York, where Drake alleged that UMG and Spotify conspired to artificially inflate the track’s streaming numbers through bots and undisclosed payments.

Both petitions are described as “pre-action filings,” aimed at gathering information to support potential lawsuits in the future. UMG has categorically denied any wrongdoing, with a spokesperson stating, “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns.”

“Not Like Us” has made waves in the music industry, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and contributing to multiple Grammy nominations for Kendrick Lamar. The ongoing tension between Drake and Lamar continues to evolve, with Lamar taking further jabs at Drake in his latest album, GNX.

It’s worth noting that neither artist is directly signed to UMG; Drake operates under his own OVO label while Lamar is signed to pgLang. Both artists license their music to UMG’s Republic and Interscope for marketing and distribution, respectively.

As the situation unfolds, the implications for both artists and the music industry at large remain to be seen.
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