Drake files legal petition over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’

In a dramatic escalation of their ongoing feud, rapper Drake has initiated legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) over alleged manipulation of streaming numbers for Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us". Filed by Drake's company, Frozen Moments LLC, the petition accuses Universal and Spotify of using illicit methods such as bots and payola to inflate the track's success.  

The legal document, submitted in New York, claims UMG orchestrated an "illegal scheme" to boost "Not Like Us" via artificial means. Drake's lawyers allege the label cut royalty rates by 30 percent in exchange for Spotify promoting the track, leading to record-breaking success with 96 million streams in one week, a #1 spot on the US charts, and significant radio play.  

Drake's team further cited claims from a podcast "whistleblower" who alleged they were paid US $2,500 to set up bots that looped the song continuously. Reports also suggest streaming assistants, like Apple's Siri, redirected fans searching for Drake's "Certified Lover Boy" to Lamar's song.  

A Universal spokesperson has rejected these allegations, describing them as "offensive and untrue," adding, "Fans choose the music they want to hear." Neither Spotify nor Lamar has commented on the claims.  

This petition is a "pre-action" move, allowing Drake to request the preservation of evidence for potential lawsuits. It also marks a public fallout between Drake and Universal, his career-long label, which he accuses of dismissing loyalists and concealing misconduct.  

The timing is notable, as Lamar's diss track has garnered four Grammy nominations and precedes his surprise album "GNX". However, despite the accolades, Drake remains ahead of Lamar in global Spotify rankings, holding 13th place to Lamar's 23rd.

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