---
title: "Drake sues longtime label UMG for defamation over Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us'"
description: "NEW YORK, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Drake sued his longtime label on Wednesday, accusing Universal Music Group of defamation for promoting Kendrick Lamar's \"Not Like Us,\" saying the song's false accusation that the Canadian rapper is a paedophile has put him and his family in danger."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Music"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-15-drake-sues-longtime-label-umg-for-defamation-over-kendrick-lamars-not-like-us/"
published: "2025-01-15T21:49:42"
updated: "2025-01-15T21:49:43"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 425
---

# Drake sues longtime label UMG for defamation over Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us'

> NEW YORK, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Drake sued his longtime label on Wednesday, accusing Universal Music Group of defamation for promoting Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us," saying the song's false accusation that the Canadian rapper is a paedophile has put him and his family in danger.

By Reuters · Published 15 January 2025, 23:49 SAST · Updated 15 January 2025, 23:49 SAST

## Key points
- In a melodramatic twist worthy of a soap opera, Drake is taking UMG to court, claiming the label's promotion of Lamar's "Not Like Us" turned him into a target for vigilante justice and left him scrambling to protect his family—because nothing says "rap beef" quite like a lawsuit over alleged defamation and corporate greed.
- Drake files a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, claiming the song "Not Like Us" falsely labels him as a criminal paedophile, inciting public harassment.
- The rapper alleges the defamatory claims led to break-in attempts at his home and forced him to increase security for himself and his young son.
- Drake criticizes UMG for prioritizing corporate greed over artist safety, asserting that the lawsuit is about more than a "rap beef."
- The case follows a previous petition against UMG and Spotify, with ongoing legal battles highlighting the contentious relationship between Drake and Lamar.

## Content

In a complaint in Manhattan federal court, Drake said the song was "intended to convey the specific, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile" and the public should exert "vigilante justice" in response.

Drake said it led to attempted break-ins at his home, prompting him to travel with extra security, and pull his seven-year-old son from his Toronto elementary school and the Toronto area.

He and Lamar, an American rapper who won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for music, have feuded for about a decade.

"UMG may spin this complaint as a rap beef gone legal, but this lawsuit is not about a war of words between artists," according to the complaint from Drake, whose given name is Aubrey Drake Graham.

"Notwithstanding a relationship spanning more than a decade, UMG intentionally sought to turn Drake into a pariah, a target for harassment, or worse," the complaint added. "UMG chose corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists."

Neither UMG nor its lawyers immediately responded to requests for comment. UMG has denied trying to undermine Drake or using unethical practices to promote "Not Like Us."

The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for defamation and harassment. Lamar is not a defendant, though Drake called "Not Like Us" defamatory. Drake's lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.

Wednesday's lawsuit followed a November petition in a New York state court in which Drake, through his company Frozen Moments, accused UMG and Spotify SPOT.N of using payola and streaming bots to promote "Not Like Us" at his music's expense.

Drake withdrew that petition on Tuesday night. His related case against UMG and radio company iHeartMedia IHRT.O remains pending in a Texas state court, online records show.

The feud between Drake and Lamar has played out in part through so-called "diss" tracks including "Not Like Us."

In that song, released last 4 May, Lamar mentioned Drake by name, saying "Drake, I hear you like 'em young" and calling him and others "certified paedophiles."

A day earlier, Drake released "Family Matters," appearing to accuse Lamar of physical abuse and infidelity, and questioning whether Lamar's business partner fathered one of his children.

"Not Like Us" topped Billboard's Hot 100 for two weeks last year. It received five nominations for the 2 February Grammy Awards, including record of the year and song of the year.

The case is Graham v UMG Recordings Inc, US District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 25-00399.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by David Gregorio)