Universal Music Group (UMG) has filed its first official court response to Drake suing the company for defamation in relation to circulating and promoting Kendrick Lamar‘s hit rap track, “Not Like Us.”
On Monday, March 17, UMG lawyers filed a motion to dismiss Drake’s lawsuit, deeming the rapper’s allegations “meritless” and insisting that Drizzy feeling publicly embarrassed is his main reason for suing the conglomerate.
“Plaintiff, one of the most successful recording artists of all time, lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated,” UMG’s lawyers wrote in legal documents acquired by Billboard.
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“Instead of accepting the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be, he has sued his own record label in a misguided attempt to salve his wounds.”
The music company further stated that Drake made his own “incendiary” statements towards Kendrick during the battle, including accusations that he physically abuses Whitney Alford and that Dave Free, his business partner may be the father of one of K. Dot’s children.
Nonetheless, Drake’s “hyperbolic insults” and “vitriolic allegations” simply didn’t resonate with the public as much as Kendrick’s did.
“Drake has been pleased to use UMG’s platform to promote tracks leveling similarly incendiary attacks at Lamar,” the music corporation attorneys wrote.
“But now, after losing the rap battle, Drake claims that ‘Not Like Us’ is defamatory. It is not.”
UMG adds that both the disses of Drake and Kendrick are guarded against defamation lawsuits because of Free Speech guaranteed by the First Amendment and that exaggerated allegations—such as calling Drake a pedophile are common in Hip-Hop diss tracks.
“Diss tracks are a popular and celebrated artform centered around outrageous insults, and they would be severely chilled if Drake’s suit were permitted to proceed,” UMG wrote.
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“Hyperbolic and metaphorical language is par for the course in diss tracks — indeed, Drake’s own diss tracks employed imagery at least as violent.”
The music corporation also called Drake one of many music stars who supported a 2022 petition criticizing prosecutors for using rap lyrics as evidence in criminal cases.
“As Drake recognized, when it comes to rap, ‘the final work is a product of the artist’s vision and imagination’,” UMG’s lawyers wrote.
“Drake was right then and is wrong now. The complaint’s unjustified claims against UMG are no more than Drake’s attempt to save face for his unsuccessful rap battle with Lamar. The court should grant UMG’s motion and dismiss the complaint with prejudice.”
Drake’s lead attorney, Michael J. Gottlieb, issued the following response: “UMG wants to pretend this is just a rap battle to distract its shareholders, artists, and the public from a simple truth: a greedy company is finally being held accountable for profiting from dangerous misinformation that has already led to multiple acts of violence. This motion is a desperate attempt by UMG to avoid responsibility, but we are confident this case will move forward and continue to expose UMG’s long history of endangering and exploiting its artists.”
On January 15, Drake issued the defamation lawsuit in a New York federal court, alleging that UMG knowingly distributed the record despite being aware that the pedophile accusations were false and defamatory.
The suit claims UMG saw the controversy as a “gold mine” and chose profit over integrity.
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