Drake Sues Universal Music Over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’

[ad_1] The long-simmering stress between Drake and Lamar, who had collaborated early of their careers, exploded into full-on musical beef final spring throughout eight quickly launched songs that included escalating private assaults.

On one observe, “Household Issues,” Drake questioned whether or not Lamar’s supervisor had secretly fathered considered one of his youngsters and alleged that Lamar had “beat on” his romantic accomplice and coated it up. Quickly after, on “Meet the Grahams,” Lamar equated Drake with Harvey Weinstein, calling him a “pervert” and a “sick man” who “ought to die” to make the world safer for girls.

The next day, Lamar launched “Not Like Us,” which incorporates lyrics like “say, Drake, I hear you want ’em younger,” calling the rapper and his crew “licensed pedophiles” who ought to “be registered and positioned on neighborhood watch.”

The observe — which, in response to Drake’s lawsuit, “cloaks cleverly harmful lyrics behind a catchy beat and welcoming hook” — went on to high the Billboard singles chart and has since been streamed multiple billion occasions on Spotify alone. On the Grammy Awards subsequent month, “Not Like Us” is nominated for 5 awards, together with file and tune of the 12 months. The next week, Lamar will headline the Tremendous Bowl halftime present in New Orleans.

“This lawsuit just isn't concerning the artist who created ‘Not Like Us,’” the go well with says. “It's, as a substitute, solely about UMG, the music firm that determined to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood weren't solely false, however harmful.”

To show defamation, a public determine should not solely present that false info was revealed, broadcast or spoken, harming their repute, however that the writer did so whereas figuring out that the data was false or with substantial doubts about its accuracy.