Entertainment
Drake files federal lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar diss track Not Like Us-Laura Harman-Entertainment – Metro
The rapper has addressed the ‘false and malicious narrative’.
Drake has filed a federal lawsuit concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Drake has filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group after they released Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us diss track that called him a paedophile.
It has been reported that Drake, real name Aubrey Drake Graham, is suing UMG for spreading the ‘false and malicious narrative’ he’s a paedophile.
This comes after Kendrick’s hit song Not Like Us contained lyrics that read: ‘Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young,’ and ‘Just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him.’
The artwork released with the single is an aerial shot of Drake’s mansion with sex offender targets overlaid.
Drake, 38, is signed to his own company OVO, and Kendrick, 37, is signed to pgLang, but both artists license their music to the record company for marketing and distribution.
TMZ reported that the suit claims the song’s lyrics are filled with ‘inflammatory and shocking allegations’ and claims that UMG had an ulterior motive when it came to promoting Kendrick’s tune.
In the documents seen by TMZ, Drake suggests that UMG profited from the devaluation of Drake’s brand as it would provide them with leverage when it came to future contract negotiations.
According to the lawsuit, UMG also paid a third party to use bots to increase the song’s streams by at least 30 million.
Drake has filed a federal lawsuit (Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Kendrick Lamar’s hit song Not Like Us is a key component in the suit (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The suit specified that Kendrick was not being discussed in the suit.
‘This lawsuit is not about the artist who created Not Like Us,’ the documents state.
‘It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize’ a song that contained false claims.
Kendrick’s upcoming Super Bowl performance in New Orleans was also mentioned in the lawsuit.
The documents alleged that UMG wanted to aid Kendrick in landing the gig so the song could be heard at ‘one of the most significant (and viewed) cultural events of the year.’
Not Like Us was an immediate success that broke several streaming records, many of which had previously been held by Drake.
The song spent 21 weeks on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart and enjoyed 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Additionally, the song has over a billion streams on Spotify.
Not Like Us lyrics referencing Drake
Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young
You better not ever go to cell block one
To any b***h that talk to him and they in love
Just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him
They tell me Chubbs the only one that get your hand-me-downs
And Party at the party playin’ with his nose now
And Baka got a weird case, why is he around?
Certified Lover Boy? Certified paedophiles
When the hit song was initially released in May 2024, Drake directly addressed the paedophile claims in his own diss track rebuttal titled The Heart Part 6.
‘I never been with no one underage but now I understand why this the angle that you really mess with, he rapped in the song.
‘Just for clarity, I feel disgusted, I’m too respected/ If I was f*****g young girls, I promise I’d have been arrested.’
Drake previously launched legal action against UMG and Spotify, accusing them of illegally boosting the popularity of Not Like Us.
After filing in New York state court in November 2024, he withdrew it to file a federal case instead.
Metro has reached out to UMG for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Entertainment – MetroRead More
