Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over the handling of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” is taking a new turn. According to UMG’s lawyer, Rollin A. Ransom, the rapper is set to withdraw key allegations from his complaint.
In a letter to the court filed on February 21, Ransom requested a delay for an upcoming April 2 pretrial conference, as UMG plans to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit entirely by March 17. While Ransom didn’t specify which claims would be dropped, his statement hints that Drake’s case is evolving.
Drake’s lawsuit, filed last month, accuses UMG of defamation, harassment, and manipulation, alleging that the company deliberately amplified “Not Like Us” to tarnish his reputation. The Toronto rapper claims the track falsely paints him as a pedophile and fueled an online hate campaign that led to trespassing incidents and a shooting at his home.
He further alleges that UMG artificially boosted the song’s streams and airplay to increase its commercial success while simultaneously devaluing his brand, making it easier for them to negotiate a less favorable contract extension.
Drake insists that the impact of the track has put his safety at risk, leading him to pull his son out of school and relocate his family. Despite confronting UMG about the issue, he claims the label did nothing to address his concerns.
With some allegations now reportedly being dropped, it remains to be seen how Drake’s legal battle with UMG will unfold.
