UPDATED — 10:47 AM 04/18/2025
A spokesperson for Drake issued the next assertion in response to UMG’s assertion concerning the rapper’s amended grievance.
“UMG’s newest assertion is a determined try and spin the narrative and deflect from the reality: Drake is holding the biggest music conglomerate on this planet accountable for its actions and doing so with out worry,” reads the assertion despatched to BOSSIP.
We dismissed the Texas discovery motion as a result of discovery will now proceed in New York. That’s not retreat, that’s victory. UMG dismissed its first modification petition in Texas as a result of it has no declare, that’s shedding. And UMG is aware of the case towards it is just getting stronger.
Drake welcomes discovery and has nothing to cover. It’s not Drake who ought to fear; it’s UMG’s present management. We look ahead to listening to from Lucian Grainge, John Janick, and UMG staff underneath oath.
UMG claims to face for creativity, however in truth exploits it and the artist neighborhood is aware of that. UMG drains artists for its income, then discards them. Drake joins a rising refrain of artists elevating questions on UMG’s management. The general public and artists ought to be involved about current headlines involving UMG’s largest stakeholder that solely reinforces the necessity for transparency all the way in which as much as the Board of Director’s stage.
UMG stated, ‘watch out what you ask for,’ Drake is aware of precisely what he requested for: the reality and accountability.”
Under this line, the unique story begins.
___________________________
Drake and his authorized staff are doubling down on their claims towards Common Music Group, insisting their promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” was a focused assault.
On Wednesday, April 16, Complain Papi filed an amended grievance in his defamation lawsuit towards Common Music Group. The revised model of the grievance claims that the label used Kendrick Lamar’s wins on the Grammy Awards and efficiency of “Not Like Us,” through the Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present to additional promote the one and, in flip, injury Drake’s repute.
Selection reviewed the amended grievance that expands the January go well with from 81 to 107 pages, specializing in occasions which have occurred because the preliminary submitting. The rapper’s authorized staff claims that Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present was proven to over 133 million individuals who had “by no means earlier than heard the track or any of the songs that preceded it.”
“It was the primary, and can hopefully be the final, Tremendous Bowl halftime present orchestrated to assassinate the character of one other artist,” the grievance reads.
The brand new grievance additionally incorporates how UMG made vital monetary investments and leveraged its skilled connections to rearrange for the huge amplification of defamatory claims to these 133 million viewers of the Tremendous Bowl and greater than 15 million viewers of the Grammys.
Drake goes on to allege that Lamar purposely excluded the phrase “pedophile” throughout his Tremendous Bowl efficiency and that “on data and perception,” he wouldn’t have been permitted to carry out except it was omitted from the lyrics. Drake‘s staff claims that UMG knowingly negotiated and promoted the Tremendous Bowl efficiency after the preliminary lawsuit was filed, inflicting intentional hurt to the Canadian musician.
Michael Gottlieb, companion at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Drake’s lead lawyer, issued the next assertion, in response to a launch despatched to BOSSIP:
“Drake’s amended grievance makes an already sturdy case stronger. UMG’s PR ‘spin’ and failed efforts to keep away from discovery can’t suppress the information and the reality. With discovery now shifting ahead, Drake will expose the proof of UMG’s misconduct, and UMG will likely be held accountable for the results of its ill-conceived choices.”
In response to the amended grievance filed towards them, Common Music Group issued an in depth assertion to Selection, asserting that Drake is being misguided by his authorized staff into pursuing “one absurd authorized step after one other.”
“Drake, unquestionably one of many world’s most achieved artists and with whom we’ve loved a 16-year profitable relationship, is being misled by his authorized representatives,” the assertion reads. “In Texas final November, his counsel instituted a authorized continuing with a lot fanfare and bluster. On Monday, they quietly dropped the case.”
The corporate continued, referencing a defamation go well with filed in New York in January.
“Afraid of being sanctioned by the courtroom for asserting false allegations, tonight they amended the grievance to withdraw them—solely so as to add extra baseless allegations,” UMG stated to Selection.
UMG additionally criticized what Drake’s staff had touted as a authorized victory in a current discovery movement.
“That ‘win’ will grow to be a loss if this frivolous and reckless lawsuit will not be dropped in its entirety as a result of Drake will personally be topic to discovery as effectively. Because the previous saying goes, ‘watch out what you would like for.’”
The label concluded by framing each authorized proceedings as dangerous not solely to Drake however to artists and inventive freedom extra broadly.
“Each the Texas and New York proceedings are an affront to all artists and inventive expression. Ought to his authorized representatives senselessly hold the New York lawsuit alive, we’ll exhibit that each one remaining claims are with out benefit,” the assertion reads. “It’s shameful that these silly and frivolous authorized theatrics proceed. They’re reputationally and financially pricey to Drake and haven’t any probability of success.”
Again in March, UMG filed a movement to dismiss the lawsuit, insisting that Drake was solely taking authorized motion as a result of he was upset that he “misplaced a rap battle.”
A listening to for the go well with dismissal is at the moment scheduled for June 30.
