In a surprising turn of events, Drake and his team at Frozen Moments LLC have filed a pre-action legal petition against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, accusing them of artificially inflating the streaming numbers for Kendrick Lamar's track "Not Like Us."
According to the document, UMG allegedly reduced licensing fees for Spotify by 30% in exchange for promoting the song. This reportedly included recommending "Not Like Us" to users searching for unrelated music. Drake’s camp further alleges that UMG used bots and undisclosed payments to amplify the song’s popularity, deceiving listeners about its true reach.
Adding fuel to the fire, the filing points to whistleblower testimony claiming that UMG and Interscope Records worked together to manipulate the song’s exposure for financial gain. Despite Drake attempting to address these issues directly with UMG, the label reportedly deflected responsibility and suggested legal action against Lamar instead.
UMG has denied all accusations, 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. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
Interestingly, this filing isn’t a full-blown lawsuit but a pre-action petition—a legal move designed to secure information before a formal case is pursued. Drake is requesting full disclosure of all third-party entities UMG worked with to promote the track, including influencers, platforms, and radio stations.
The controversy comes shortly after Kendrick Lamar surprise-dropped his latest album, GNX, over the weekend. Meanwhile, Drake, addressing fans during a livestream on Sunday, seemed to hint at the ongoing drama, saying, “You need facts to take me out. Fairytales won’t do it.”
This clash also follows the rappers’ public feud earlier this year, adding another chapter to their simmering rivalry.
Photo: Cole Burston/Getty Images
