Universal Music Group (UMG) claims key allegations in the ‘Not Like Us’ lawsuit will be dropped, but Drake’s legal team has swiftly pushed back.
On February 21, UMG’s attorney, Rollin A. Ransom, filed a petition to postpone the pretrial conference set for April 2, arguing the court needed time to consider UMG’s forthcoming motion to dismiss the defamation suit. The label must file its motion by March 17.
“[P]ursuant to separate correspondence, Plaintiff has agreed to withdraw certain key allegations in his complaint,” Ransom stated, though he did not specify which claims were being retracted.
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Drake’s attorneys, however, strongly opposed UMG’s request for a delay. In a February 24 letter filed in the Southern District of New York, his legal team argued that UMG’s motion was both baseless and an attempt to bypass legal procedures.
“UMG’s request to adjourn is unsupported by the law or facts—indeed, UMG does not cite a single case suggesting, let alone holding, that adjournment is appropriate under these circumstances,” the letter stated. “The reason for UMG’s failure to marshal any supporting authority is straightforward: UMG is attempting to circumvent the Rules (as well as the local rules) by obtaining a stay of discovery without actually moving for one.”
Drake’s attorney Michael J. Gottlieb has submitted a 4-page response to UMG’s letter motion OPPOSING UMG’s request to pause the April 2 pretrial conference scheduled by Judge Vargas.
— The OVO Docket (@OVODocket) February 25, 2025
Drake’s legal team claims UMG’s request is an attempt to circumvent the rules of the court. pic.twitter.com/prZViDNqxS
In January, Drake, 39, sued UMG, alleging the label knowingly distributed and promoted Kendrick Lamar’s track ‘Not Like Us’ despite being aware of what he calls false and defamatory claims in the song.
READ ALSO: How Drake’s legal team tackled UMG ahead of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance
The lawsuit accuses UMG of disregarding the “inflammatory and shocking allegations” in the track, claiming the company prioritized profits over truth by capitalizing on the controversy. Drake further suggests UMG may have played a role in securing Lamar’s performance slot at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, providing a massive platform to amplify the alleged defamation.
He also asserts that UMG’s aggressive promotion of the song was meant to harm his reputation, devalue his brand, and gain leverage in future negotiations. Citing multiple shootings near his home, including one that injured a security guard, Drake links the track’s release to an increase in security threats.
The lawsuit clarifies that Drake’s legal action is not directed at Kendrick Lamar personally. “This lawsuit is not about the artist who created Not Like Us,” the filing states. “It is entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize a record riddled with falsehoods.”
READ ALSO: Drake sues Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar diss track “Not Like Us”
