Drake is escalating his legal dispute with Universal Music Group (UMG), citing further harm to his reputation caused by Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss track, “Not Like Us.”
In newly filed court documents, Drake claims that Lamar’s high-profile appearances — including his Super Bowl halftime show and Grammy Awards sweep — amplified the impact of the song, exposing it to even broader audiences and worsening the damage.
Both artists are signed under different branches of UMG and were involved in a heated lyrical feud throughout 2024, with Lamar emerging as the chart favorite. Drake initially filed a lawsuit against UMG in January, accusing the label of defamation for allegedly promoting a false and harmful portrayal of him through Lamar’s track.
The song contains heavy accusations, branding Drake as a “certified pedophile” and “predator,” and suggesting he should be monitored by the community.
UMG responded with a motion to dismiss the case last month, claiming that Drake’s lawsuit was simply an attempt to “save face” following his loss in the rap rivalry.
In an updated complaint submitted on Wednesday in a New York federal court, Drake’s legal team pointed to Lamar’s Grammy wins and Super Bowl performance as key moments that drew more attention to the controversial lyrics. The complaint also stated that the events led to a noticeable spike in threats aimed at Drake and his family.
Lamar, who secured five Grammy Awards in February, performed at the Super Bowl just a week later. Although he omitted the word “pedophile” during the live show, which attracted over 133 million viewers, Drake’s lawyers argue that the damage had already been done due to the song’s wide exposure.