Drake has hit us with another back-to-back. And no we’re not talking about music, I’m talking about legal action.
Yes, you read that correctly, Drake has filed another petition against Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the music company of defamation for allowing the release of “Not Like Us,” which falsely accuses the Toronto rapper of being a “certified pedophile” and sex offender.”
Similar to the filing on Monday, this Texas petition is a “pre-action filing,” and is only meant to gather information that could help the rapper’s case in a potential future lawsuit, according to Billboard.
The rapper’s attorneys also accuse UMG of funneling payments to iHeart in a scheme to promote the popular diss track even more.
Despite this filing being over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, he’s not accusing the Compton MC of any legal wrongdoing, only UMG.
More from Billboard on the filing:
“UMG … could have refused to release or distribute the song or required the offending material to be edited and/or removed,” Drake’s lawyers write. “But UMG chose to do the opposite. UMG designed, financed and then executed a plan to turn ‘Not Like Us’ into a viral mega-hit with the intent of using the spectacle of harm to Drake and his businesses to drive consumer hysteria and, of course, massive revenues. That plan succeeded, likely beyond UMG’s wildest expectations.”
Even if Drake has a case, we’re entering new territory in the rap world. Diss tracks have always embellished the truth. But never have we heard of a rapper taking legal action against a rival artist after losing a rap battle.
Jay-Z didn’t take legal action against Nas. NWA didn’t take legal action against Ice Cube. Ja Rule didn’t take legal action against 50 Cent.
Drake is the first rapper to do so and Black Twitter is making sure he knows about it.
One user interestingly pointed out on X, “UMG also released the song where Drake accused Kendrick of beating his wife and not being the biological father of his son.”
Others agreed, with one person posting, “The “They shouldnt have let him release that” makes no sense when you released Family Matters and HP6. Im scratching my head at that. I get trynna get Lucian wherever you can, but this makes you look bad in the public thats already collectively looking for your downfall.”
Either way, Drake is going down a path that few rappers in history have ever entered. We’ll see how hip-hop perceives him once he’s done.