Drake chose to sue Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us because he feared his rap rival could perform the song at next year’s Super Bowl, DailyMail.com can reveal.
The Canadian rapper, 38, stunned fans this week when he filed legal papers against the label, which he accused of using illegal methods to promote Kendrick’s hit song, which calls him a “certified pedophile.”
Drake claimed that the music monolith had implemented the use of “bots and a payola scheme” in its efforts to promote the single, which was released last May. TMZ Hip Hop.
The Grammy-winning hitmaker claimed that information provided to him by an “inside source” indicated that UMG had violated FCC statutes by engaging in the practice of payola.
Now, insiders have revealed that Drake was also concerned about the song being further amplified when Kendrick, 37, headlined the Super Bowl LIX Halftime show in February.
“Drake is concerned about Kendrick performing Not Like Us at the Super Bowl,” a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. “Universal bosses are shocked that Drake is suing them, and some suspect the lawsuit is an attempt to stop Kendrick from performing Not Like Us at the event.”
Drake chose to sue Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us, fearing his rap rival could perform the song at next year’s Super Bowl.
Despite the intense nature of the legal action being taken, the insider noted that UMG has no current plans to cut ties.
“The label has no intention of ending its professional relationship with Drake as a result,” the source emphasizes.
In September, it was confirmed that Kendrick will perform at the NFL’s showpiece season in New Orleans on February 9.
A second source claimed that the Humble hitmaker became frustrated by the assumption that his upcoming halftime show would focus on his rap rival.
“People are trying to pigeonhole Kendrick into making his Super Bowl performance all about Drake,” they said.
“He’s toyed with a few surprises, including asking Drake and Lil Wayne to be a part of it. But he starts to think about that again and make the performance just something for him and him alone.
“He thinks he deserves it and doesn’t need to offer an olive branch to anyone.”
When Kendrick was announced, fans were in an uproar as they hoped that Lil Wayne would get the opportunity since he is from New Orleans.
Drake’s feud with Kendrick dominated hip-hop headlines this year – with many agreeing that Drake lost the music battle
In September, it was confirmed that the Poetic Justice rapper would perform at the NFL’s showpiece season in New Orleans on February 9.
Days later, Wayne released a video to acknowledge his ‘pain’, telling fans: ‘I’m going to thank every voice, every opinion, all the care, all the love and support. Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.
“I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a disappointment and for automatically putting myself mentally in that position, as if someone told me this was my position. But I thought there was nothing better than that place and that stage and that stage in my city, so it hurt.”
With the surprise release of his new album, GNX, last week, Kendrick responded to Wayne’s disappointment with his song with murals.
“Back in the day against Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I guess my hard work let Lil Wayne down / Anyway, call me crazy, everyone doubtful / Turn me into an esk– -, I drew the line and decimals,” he raps in the second verse.
He then added, “Won the Super Bowl and Nas was the only one congratulating me / All these agitated n****s, I’m just glad they showed their faces.”
Drake filed the legal papers Monday in Manhattan through his Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC, claiming UMG violated state law with its conduct, specifically the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
The legal filing Drake filed is considered a “pre-action” under state law, calling for an investigation before a full lawsuit is filed.
The First Person Shooter artist, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, alleged that UMG made “collusion payments” to many organizations, including radio stations, to play and plug the diss track aimed at him, TMZ reported.
A source told DailyMail.com: ‘Universal bosses are shocked that Drake is suing them and some suspect the lawsuit is an attempt to stop Kendrick from performing Not Like Us.’
Drake has filed legal papers against Universal Music Group, claiming the company used illegal methods to promote the chart-topping song
UMG has had a checkered past when it comes to payola, also known as “pay for play,” Drake said in legal filings
Drake said in legal documents that UMG has a checkered past when it comes to payola, also known as “pay for play.”
His legal team said in court filings that “UMG … conspired with and paid currently unknown parties to use ‘bots’ to artificially inflate the distribution of Not Like Us and trick consumers into believing the song was more popular than it actually was.” ‘
Drake said an insider told him that UMG executives also approved spending money on bots to boost Not Like Us’ Spotify totals, which brought in 30 million streams.
The rapper also mentioned Spotify in the legal filing, according to Billboard.
According to the filing, UMG brass also paid influencers to promote the single and allegedly ignored copyright enforcement requirements through social media in an effort to make the track go viral.
The Family Matters singer — whose own music is distributed through UMG — said one purpose in filing the lawsuit was to audit the label for their alleged payments to iHeartRadio and its affiliates.
Drake told the court that details regarding this matter could form the basis for a civil fraud and racketeering case against UMG and their associates.
He said the facts he can already prove could support a defamation lawsuit against UMG.
Drake has long been associated with UMG, through subsidiaries such as Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records. Pictured in 2019 in LA
Kendrick previously appeared on the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show in 2022 alongside Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg
Drake has long been associated with UMG, through subsidiaries such as Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records.
Kendrick has also worked at UMG throughout his career, through the companies Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope, in addition to his own communications agency pgLang.
Drake’s legal team noted that UMG paid a $12 million fine to the New York State Attorney General in May 2006 to settle an investigation into whether the company had used payola tactics to promote the music of giving artists a boost.
Those UMG paid to promote 18 years ago included artists such as Ashlee Simpson, Brian McKnight and Nick Lachey, New York authorities said at the time, Variety reported.
A spokesperson for Universal Music Group told Dailymail.com in a statement: ‘The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine one of its artists is insulting and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns.
“No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action entry can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
Not Like Us broke several chart records after spending 21 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot Rap chart, and spending 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart – where it reached number one twice.
It has been played over 914 million times on Spotify, while ranking third on the Rap Streaming Songs chart.