Drake Faces Fiery Response from UMG Over "Not Like Us" Defamation Lawsuit

In a surprising turn of events, Drake has found himself embroiled in a legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us." The Canadian rapper filed a lawsuit in New York federal court, claiming that the music giant knew the allegations made in the song were false but still released and promoted it, prioritizing "corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists."

However, UMG has swiftly responded, dismissing Drake's claims as "untrue" and "illogical." In a strongly worded statement, the company defended its actions, stating that it has "invested massively" in Drake's music and has helped him achieve "historic commercial and personal financial success."

The statement further asserted that Drake has "intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth 'rap battles' to express his feelings about other artists." UMG accused the rapper of now "seek[ing] to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist's creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for distributing that artist's music."

The lawsuit cites several incidents, including a shooting at Drake's Toronto home and multiple trespassing incidents, that it claims were incited by the release of "Not Like Us." As a result, Drake reportedly fears for the safety of himself, his family, and his friends, and even withdrew his son from the elementary school he attended in Toronto due to safety concerns.

Drake's legal team reiterates that the lawsuit is not about Kendrick Lamar, the artist who created the diss track, but rather about UMG, the music company that "decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false, but dangerous."

The response from UMG is a clear indication that the company is not willing to back down without a fight. It remains to be seen how this high-profile legal battle will unfold, as the music industry watches closely to see the outcome of this unprecedented case in the world of rap feuds.