In a dramatic turn of events, Drake has officially withdrawn his petition against Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG), stepping away from his accusations of an alleged scheme to inflate streaming numbers for Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.”
Drake’s Frozen Moments company filed the withdrawal in a New York court on Tuesday, ending his request for pre-action disclosure of documents from both Spotify and UMG. According to court documents reviewed by Variety, the decision came after discussions with representatives from the two entities. Spotify had previously filed an objection to Drake’s claims, while UMG reserved its position without filing a formal response.
The saga began in November 2024 when Drake accused UMG, which distributes both his and Lamar’s music, of employing bots and offering payola to artificially inflate the popularity of “Not Like Us.” The explosive track, which directly targeted Drake with accusations of cultural appropriation and pedophilia, became one of the year’s most talked-about hits. Drake alleged that UMG licensed the song to Spotify at unusually low rates and used bots to create the illusion of a massive streaming success.
UMG vehemently denied the accusations, calling them “offensive and untrue.” A statement shared with Variety read: “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is absurd. We adhere to the highest ethical standards in our promotional campaigns, and fans ultimately decide what they want to hear.”
Spotify also fired back in late December, filing opposition papers that dismantled Drake’s claims. “Spotify has no incentive to prioritize ‘Not Like Us’ over any of Drake’s tracks,” a spokesperson said. They revealed that only a €500 Marquee ad had been purchased to promote the track in France, emphasizing that it was transparently labeled as a sponsored recommendation. Spotify also denied any secret deals with UMG to promote Lamar’s diss track.
Drake’s legal team maintained their stance, suggesting that both Spotify and UMG were avoiding transparency. However, Tuesday’s withdrawal signals an apparent truce in what had become a high-stakes battle between the rapper and two industry giants.
This legal drama was the culmination of an intense feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake that began in March 2024, when Lamar threw shade at Drake in a verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.”The rivalry escalated with diss tracks traded on social media and streaming platforms, eventually peaking with “Not Like Us,” which became a global sensation.
For now, Drake’s decision to step back may bring some closure to the dispute, but fans are left wondering if this marks the end of the epic rap battle—or if another lyrical clash is just around the corner. One thing’s for sure: when Drake and Kendrick Lamar are involved, the world will be watching.
