Drake Files Second Lawsuit Against UMG Over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Labeling Him A Pedophile

Drake has filed a second legal complaint against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us,” accusing the company of defamation and alleging it could have prevented the release of a track that falsely labels him a sex offender.

Drake’s legal team claims that UMG illegally boosted Lamar’s track on Spotify, filing a similar complaint in Texas regarding iHeartRadio, accusing the company of participating in a “pay-to-play” scheme to promote the song. The new filing, submitted late Monday and made public on Tuesday, accuses UMG of directing payments to iHeartRadio to increase the song’s radio airplay.

Drake’s complaint includes fresh details about his grievances with UMG, his longtime label. According to Drake’s lawyers, UMG was aware that Lamar’s song falsely depicted him as a “certified pedophile” and “predator” but chose to release it anyway. They argue that UMG had the option to prevent or modify the song’s release but instead orchestrated a plan to make the track a viral success, driven by the controversy and harm to Drake’s reputation, ultimately generating significant revenue.

The filing is not yet a lawsuit but a pre-action request for depositions from key figures at UMG and iHeartRadio to gather evidence for a potential defamation case. Drake’s lawyers also hint at possible claims of civil fraud and racketeering, depending on what they uncover in the depositions.

Neither UMG nor iHeartRadio responded immediately to the new filing, and Lamar is not named in the complaint nor accused of any legal wrongdoing. UMG issued a statement calling the accusations “offensive and untrue,” insisting that the company follows ethical practices in its promotional efforts.

This legal action marks an escalation in the ongoing public dispute between Drake and Lamar, which included a series of diss tracks earlier this year. The filing also deepens the rift between Drake and UMG, where he has spent his career, and where Lamar is also signed under Interscope. In the new petition, Drake accuses UMG of unfairly prioritizing Lamar by knowingly approving a release that attacked his character.