Last Friday, Kendrick Lamar surprise-dropped his new album, GNX. He didn’t even have to include any of his Drake-disses from earlier this year – no “Meet the Grahams” or “Euphoria” or “Not Like Us.” All new music, and it’s all great. Funny, smart and already classic. I kind of thought “wacced out murals” would be the first single, but no – Kendrick surprise-dropped the music video for “squabble up” on Monday. Here you go:
I love this song. I enjoy the whole album, but this one is so much fun. The video is full of classic hip-hop references. I’m a big fan of Kendrick reading “How To Be More Like Kendrick for Dummies.” Great touch.
Concurrent to all of Kendrick’s awesomeness, Drake continues his downward spiral. Dude has not been the same since “Like That.” Dude definitely hasn’t been the same since those six days where Kendrick dropped four songs in a row. Over the weekend, Drake went on a white guy’s stream and tried to talk sh-t about Kendrick. People ended up clowning on Drake for his bald spot. But I never expected Drake to get this sad – he’s just filed a pseudo-lawsuit against UMG and Spotify over Kendrick’s “Not Like Us.” Dude turned into the biggest Canadian Karen ever when he lost a rap battle. Drake would like to speak to the manager!!
Drake has initiated legal action against Universal Music Group and Spotify over allegations that the two companies conspired to artificially inflate the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” In a filing Monday (Nov. 25) in Manhattan court, Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC accused UMG of launching an illegal “scheme” involving bots, payola and other methods to pump up Lamar’s song — a track that savagely attacked Drake amid an ongoing feud between the two stars.
“UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices,” attorneys for Drake’s company write. “It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.”
Drake’s attorneys accuse UMG of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the federal “RICO” statute often used in criminal cases against organized crime. They also allege deceptive business practices and false advertising under New York state law.
The court filings are a remarkable twist in the high-profile beef between the two stars, which saw Drake and Kendrick exchange stinging diss tracks over a period of months earlier this year. That such a dispute would spill into business litigation seemed almost unthinkable in the world of hip-hop. It also represents a stunning rift between Drake and UMG, where the star has spent his entire career, first through signing a deal with Lil Wayne’s Young Money imprint, which was distributed by Republic Records, and then signing directly to Republic.
Lamar, meanwhile, has also spent his entire career associated with UMG, first through the TDE imprint, which was distributed by Interscope, and more recently through his own company pgLang, which he licenses through Interscope.
In technical terms, Monday’s filing is not yet a full lawsuit, but a so-called “pre-action” petition — a procedure under New York law that aims to secure information before filing a lawsuit. Spotify declined to comment. UMG did not immediately return a request for comment.
First of all, Drake is NOT suing Kendrick for all of the sh-t Kendrick said about him in the diss tracks. Drake is taking legal action because he doesn’t believe that people were organically streaming (and buying) Kendrick’s diss-songs like crazy. Like… “Not Like Us” was genuinely one of the biggest hits of the year. “Euphoria” is one of the best SONGS of the year. People were streaming those songs because they are awesome songs. Interestingly, Drake’s accusations are likely admissions – for years, people in the music industry have wondered (for YEARS) about Drake’s seemingly artificially inflated numbers. Drake is the one whose career has been inflated and hyper-managed by UMG.
A UMG rep responded to Drake’s legal action via Variety: “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.“ Basically, Drake is a sore-loser Canadian Karen who can’t cope with the fact that he lost a rap battle.
— The Anti-Ak (@rinnegoddess) November 25, 2024
Drake after hearing Not Like Us pic.twitter.com/d12JvjLARj
— kendrick Lyrics (@WordFromKdot) November 25, 2024
Drake throwing shots at Kendrick Lamar while on stream with xQC 👀
“You need facts to take me out, fairytales won't do it.” pic.twitter.com/Ehac7pW4La
— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) November 25, 2024
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Instagram, ‘Not Like Us’ video stills.
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- Paris, FRANCE – Rapper Kendrick Lamar leaving the Chanel Private Lunch at Palais Galliera after attending Chanel’s fashion show during Paris Fashion Week. Pictured: Kendrick Lamar BACKGRID USA 4 JULY 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY – Rapper Drake exudes sophistication as he steps out for an evening dinner at his favorite NYC hotspot, Mamo, in SoHo Pictured: Drake BACKGRID USA 13 NOVEMBER 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY – Drake enjoys a day off from his “It’s All A Blur/Big As The What? tour with dinner at Mamo Italian restaurant in New York Pictured: Drake BACKGRID USA 1 APRIL 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY – Drake enjoys a day off from his “It’s All A Blur/Big As The What? tour with dinner at Mamo Italian restaurant in New York Pictured: Drake BACKGRID USA 1 APRIL 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY – Drake, accompanied by his father Dennis and the recently single Odell Beckham Jr, ignites the night with an electrifying afterparty at Zero Bond following his sensational performance at the Prudential Center in NJ. Drake appeared to be unbothered despite his current rap beef with Kendrick Lamar, Future, and Metro Boomin. Pictured: Drake BACKGRID USA 5 APRIL 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
I’ve always thought Drake was a loser, and it’s nice to see him continue to prove I’m right.
can’t wait to see Not Like Us played at the Superbowl. 😂
Rap is absolutely not my thing but even I listened to all of these songs when they came out.
How does he think this is a good idea?
Drake is about to learn about the Streisand effect.
There is a second lawsuit claiming defamation now. So we are going to find out if he ever went to an Epstein or Diddy party.
Softer than baby hands, for real. Thing is, it’s nowhere outside the scope of believability that a record label is paying bots to inflate numbers, but my dude if anyone is benefiting from that practice it’s you!! You haven’t released a good album in about 7 years and yet you’re the most streamed artist of all time? So not only do you lose the rap beef, but you have to do the most Karenesque move of all time? This man has a special ability to have you root for the empire, I swear.
@ Dee(2) Exactly like think logically here. We are suppose to believe that this benefitted Kendrick, yet it didn’t benefit you, despite your music being distributed by the same label. You can’t make this argument without telling on yourself.
“Softer than baby hands.” Thank you! I needed that. May I use it freely? For there are a number of folks (cough — adult men — cough) in my life who qualify.
Drake ASKED for all this! Kendrick is a superior lyricist. The man has a Pulitzer Prize FFS. Not like us was the song of the summer and I still listen to Euphoria. I was always suspicious of his numbers and he is basically admitting this is what he does. Meanwhile this is going to have the Streisand effect. Yes let’s bring attention to song where he calls you a pedophile.
Who in god’s name is advising Drake??????😕😕😕😕😕
Exactly my thoughts. Regardless of whether he has a legal leg to stand on he is destroying his reputation in the game. How is he going to put out music rapping like a tough guy now? He got his ass handed to him by Kendrick and instead of just taking it like a man he is pouting like a child and throwing a tantrum. No way some legit tough rapper is going to want to collab with him now. This is sad. I do not like Drake at all but I don’t want to seem him be this undignified either
NLU is still like something of an anthem in Toronto, according to my son, who is spending some time working at the HQ of a global chain of luxury hotels, not exactly the place where one would expect people to listen to it.
Too bad, Audrey. Meanwhile, meet the Grahams, maybe?
I’m sure Drake’s lawyers are happy for the billable hours, with the holidays and end of the year bonuses approaching.
Not a huge rap fan, usually just the older stuff, so I can say I haven’t listened to either Kendrick or Drake on purpose (I’ve heard their stuff when other people play them in the car or such). But I do know that Drake is from Toronto so a diss track against him being the unofficial anthem in Toronto is delicious beyond words.
A few months ago I was walking on Queen West in Toronto and Not like Us was blasting from a car. No one was upset.
I feel for the Raptors because it gets played at every away game.
I’m glad the whole world can see what a cornball Drake really is. He fits every stereotype of a half Black man with a white mother. No identity. Insecure. Jealous of Black women and constantly disses them. Throws rocks and hides his hands. I could go on.
Notice how he dropped this on the same day that Kendrick dropped new music. He’s trying to distract. Drake, nicki minaj, and lil wayne are narcissistic, childish, whiny babies
I had so little sleep from Euphoria to Not Like Us release. There was no need to buy any bots (which I am sure, a regular expense for record companies now), everyone and I mean EVERYONE was tuned in. People were spamming the youtubers for reaction videos for each release and they were getting millions of views, even small channels. That was the most organic hype since Spotify changed the game with easily available bot farms. Besides that, the most Karen behavior to a diss track is to find someone to sue. If you want more streams, just create better diss tracks. I still can’t believe this rich guy from Canada has fans.
LOL this is more cringe than the J Lo rumors his pathetic team tried to make happen recently.
What in fresh hell is that top picture?! LOL
Oh puh-LEEZ Drakaren, I m a fifty something white lady that never heard of Kendrick until I read about him on Celebitchy, and even I had Not Like Us on repeat all summer. His music is just Good Good Good way better than yours!
Exactly. The song was an instant smash. It was being played at bar mitzvahs, Indian weddings, political events etc… within weeks of being released. Drake is the sorest loser I’ve ever scene….
There was a video of little children screaming the song (especially the part “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles”) at the top of their longs at a party. I have never seen a song capturing both adults and children at the same time like that.
He dropped a second lawsuit. I am in tears laughing at him now.