Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar: Rap Feud Escalates to US Courts – What You Need to Know

Canadian rapper Drake has taken legal action against Kendrick Lamar and Universal Music Group (UMG). Drake claims UMG collaborated to inflate Lamar’s streaming numbers and has defamed him. This dispute stems from their ongoing rivalry, common in hip-hop culture.

This year, both artists released “diss tracks” targeting one another. Lamar’s song, Not Like Us, gained over 900 million streams on Spotify and received multiple Grammy nominations.

Drake’s first legal filing accuses UMG of charging low licensing fees to Spotify to promote Lamar’s song extensively. He also claims UMG used computer bots to artificially boost its streaming numbers. In a second filing in Texas, Drake argues that UMG released the song despite knowing it contained objectionable material.

Drake states that UMG developed a plan to make Not Like Us a viral hit at his expense. However, neither legal filing constitutes a formal lawsuit or claims of fraud or defamation. The information gathered may lead to future legal action.

UMG responded, denying the allegations. They asserted their ethical marketing practices and stated that fans ultimately choose what music to listen to.

This controversy escalated just days after Lamar released his unexpected album, GNX. Lamar is also set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February, an event viewed by millions.