Drake’s Legal Battle with UMG Escalates, Demanding Kendrick lamar’s Contract and Scrutiny of Lucian Grainge
Drake’s lawsuit against Global Music Group (UMG) is intensifying, with his legal team now seeking full access to Kendrick Lamar’s contract with the label and demanding greater openness regarding UMG CEO Lucian Grainge’s involvement in the dispute stemming from the recent rap feud. The legal maneuvers come as Drake alleges UMG improperly amplified false allegations made by Lamar, contributing to damage to his reputation and career.
The core of the lawsuit centers around Drake’s claim that UMG prioritized promoting Lamar’s diss tracks, specifically “Not Like us,” by artificially inflating streams through the use of bots – a tactic Drake’s lawyers recently achieved a partial victory in investigating by successfully serving a key witness, Kojo Menne Asamoah, accused of orchestrating the bot activity. This legal battle has broader implications for artist rights and label responsibilities in the age of streaming, potentially setting a precedent for how labels manage and respond to public disputes between artists. The outcome could significantly impact how UMG handles artist conflicts and the level of transparency it provides regarding promotional strategies.
Drake’s lawyers filed a request on june 24 for Kendrick Lamar’s complete UMG contract, after receiving a heavily redacted version. They argue the redactions violate a prior agreement for “Attorneys’ Eyes Only” access to such documents. The filing asserts UMG is improperly shielding Grainge from scrutiny, reversing previous statements about his role and withholding evidence related to the allegations leveled by Lamar. Specifically, Drake’s team wants all custodial files pertaining to Grainge’s promotion and knowledge of the claims made in “Not Like Us.”
The legal team contends UMG is obstructing their inquiry into the alleged bot activity and the label’s response to the public feud. XXL has reached out to Kendrick Lamar’s team, Drake’s attorneys, and UMG for comment.
