Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge has dismissed Drake’s lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” as “farcical,” “groundless,” and “ridiculous,” highlighting the apparent contradiction in the rapper’s claims against a company that has invested “hundreds of millions” in his career.
UMG’s Grainge slams Drake’s lawsuit as contradictory given the company’s massive financial investment in the rapper’s career.
The legal dispute stems from allegations that UMG defamed Drake through its promotion of Lamar’s Grammy-winning track, which effectively concluded their highly publicized rap battle.
The lawsuit’s timing has raised eyebrows throughout the music industry, considering Drake signed a massive $400 million deal with UMG’s Republic label in 2022. Grainge emphasized this financial relationship in his response, questioning the logic behind attacking the very company that owns Drake’s catalog and publishing rights.
Industry observers have similarly criticized the lawsuit as potentially damaging to artistic expression within hip-hop culture.
Drake’s legal team has requested access to unredacted contracts and internal communications, particularly those involving Grainge, to substantiate claims that UMG orchestrated a campaign to elevate “Not Like Us” at Drake’s expense. Grainge characterized these discovery attempts as merely a tactic for media attention.
They assert the diss track negatively impacted the rapper’s reputation and career trajectory despite his status as one of music’s bestselling artists over the past two decades.
UMG has pushed back against these discovery requests, especially those targeting Grainge’s personal communications. The company denies the CEO had direct involvement in promotional decisions regarding Lamar’s track and argues that any alleged wrongdoing would contradict UMG’s substantial financial interest in Drake’s continued success.
The case highlights unique tensions within the music industry’s corporate structure, as UMG simultaneously represents both artists through different subsidiaries—Drake through Republic and Lamar through Interscope. This situation illustrates the complexities artists face when diversifying their revenue streams within the same corporate ecosystem.
As the discovery phase unfolds, the dispute raises broader questions about artist-label relationships in competitive music markets where corporate interests must balance support for multiple high-profile talents engaged in public conflicts.
Drake’s legal team has also made additional requests for documents related to Kendrick Lamar’s team member Daffrey, including communications about domestic violence allegations that they claim are relevant to building their case.
Proper registration with performance rights organizations is crucial for both artists to collect royalties from the public performances of their music, including controversial tracks like “Not Like Us.”
