Drake is suing Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, accusing them of manipulating streaming services to inflate the popularity of Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us." The lawsuit alleges bots, pay-to-play schemes, and misdirection tactics were used to suppress Drake’s music and boost Lamar’s songs for financial gain.
Drake has escalated his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar by taking legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify. In a petition filed on November 25, 2024, the Canadian rapper alleges that UMG manipulated streaming services to inflate the popularity of Lamar’s diss track, "Not Like Us," while suppressing his music. The lawsuit claims that UMG used bots and a "pay-to-play" scheme to boost Lamar's song, including paying Spotify to recommend "Not Like Us" to users searching for unrelated tracks and even influencing Siri to misdirect Drake's fans to Lamar's track.
Drake’s petition also accuses UMG of paying social media influencers to promote the song and inflating its streaming numbers. According to the filing, the track achieved nearly 900 million streams in a single day, making it the most-streamed diss track in history. Drake claims UMG’s efforts were financially motivated, boosting sales of Lamar’s back catalog and generating substantial revenue for the label.
Drake is suing UMG and Spotify for violating several laws, including the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, and is demanding the preservation of relevant documents. While UMG denied the allegations, calling them false and offensive, Drake’s legal move signals a deepening conflict in his rivalry with Lamar.
