UMG Responds to Drake’s Lawsuit Over Alleged ‘Artificially Inflated’ Streams of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”

Universal Music Group (UMG) has issued a strong rebuttal to Drake's recent lawsuit, in which the rapper claims the music giant collaborated with Spotify to artificially inflate streams of Kendrick Lamar's hit single "Not Like Us." The lawsuit alleges that UMG launched a manipulative campaign to saturate streaming platforms and the airwaves, boosting the song’s popularity through questionable means.

In the legal filing, Drake’s attorneys accused UMG of using “artificial” tactics to boost the success of “Not Like Us,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and set a new record on the Hot Rap Songs chart, staying at the top for an impressive 24 weeks. The track, which currently boasts over 900 million streams on Spotify, was released in May, just as Drake and Kendrick Lamar were embroiled in a highly publicized diss track feud.

In response to the allegations, UMG released a statement calling the claims "offensive and untrue," emphasizing that the company adheres to the highest ethical standards in its marketing and promotional practices. The statement continued, “No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.” UMG further asserted that the suggestion they would undermine any of their own artists is completely unfounded.

"Not Like Us" was distributed by UMG’s Interscope Records, which also handles the licensing of Kendrick Lamar’s multimedia company, pgLang. The lawsuit marks a surprising twist in the ongoing rivalry between Drake and Kendrick, particularly as Drake has been signed to UMG for the majority of his career, first through his partnership with Young Money Entertainment (distributed by Republic Records) and later under Republic itself.

Drake filed the lawsuit on November 25, just days after the release of Kendrick Lamar's highly anticipated sixth album, GNX. The complaint, filed through Drake’s entity Frozen Moments LLC, accuses UMG of orchestrating a “scheme” to promote "Not Like Us" through payola, bots, and other controversial methods. Additionally, Drake's legal team claims that UMG’s actions violate federal RICO laws (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act), which are often applied in criminal cases related to organized crime. The suit also includes allegations of fraudulent promotion and misleading business practices under New York state law.

As the case unfolds, the music industry is closely watching this high-profile dispute, which not only pits two of rap’s biggest stars against each other but also raises questions about the intersection of streaming, promotion, and the business of music in the digital age.

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