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Drake’s Legal Team Mocks Spotify For Denying “Inflated” Streaming Allegations

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Drake believes he has a strong case against UMG and Spotify. The rapper has stated, categorically, that the label and streaming platform conspired to boost the streams of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” He has filed a motion to examine UMG and Spotify data to set the record straight. Spotify denied the 6 God and issued a statement dismissing his allegations. It didn’t take long for the rapper to issue a response of his own. Drake’s legal team made it clear that they are not going away until they get the information they want.

Let’s recap the Spotify denial. The streaming platform claimed that it has no “economic incentive” to boost the streams of “Not Like Us” over a Drake song. Furthermore, the company stated that they did not find any information to support the rapper’s claims regarding bots. Drake’s initial motion contained an allegation regarding an individual who used bots to boost “Not Like Us” streams by 30 million.” The platform also denied the allegation that UMG charged them 30% lower in terms of licensing rates to promote Kendrick Lamar’s diss.

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Drake Was Not Surprised By Spotify’s Denial

Drake’s legal team was nonplussed. They issued a statement within hours, and they claimed to have anticipated Spotify’s line of defense. “It is not surprising that Spotify is trying to distance themselves,” they wrote. “From UMG’s allegedly manipulative practices to artificially inflate streaming numbers on behalf of one of its other artists.” Drake’s representatives also restated their ultimate goal, which is to gain access to streaming data. As far as the rapper is concerned, UMG and Spotify should be willing to share as long as they are not guilty. “If Spotify and UMG have nothing to hide,” the statement concluded. “Then they should be perfectly fine complying with this basic discovery request.”

Drake has been widely ridiculed for his decision to take legal action. Many of his peers have mocked his decision to “lawyer up” instead of “squabble up,” to quote Charlamagne Tha God. Nevertheless, he will move forward with his allegations. Those eager for new Drake music instead of drama, however, will be thrilled to learn that he’s back in the studio. He posted a photo of 40 working on a new song the night before his Spotify response.

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Spotify Slams Drake’s ‘False’ And Purely ‘Speculative’ Legal Filing That Accuses The Company Of A Kendrick Lamar Payola Scheme

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Drake Boston Celtics v Toronto Raptors 2023 (1024x437)
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Drake’s legal filing against UMG and Spotify caused controversy among rap fans. However, the “No Face” rapper remains steadfast in his beliefs that his own record label and the streaming giant colluded to “artificially inflate” the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s diss song “Not Like Us.”

Now, the music titans are fighting back. Today (December 20), Spotify reportedly responded to Drake’s pre-petition with a motion of its own in Manhattan court. According to Billboard, it claimed to have “found zero evidence to support the claims of a bot attack” to increase the streams of “Not Like Us.” The company also denied entering a backdoor deal with UMG to aid Kendrick in his war of words with Drake.

“The predicate of Petitioner’s entire request for discovery from Spotify is false,” read the motion. “Spotify and UMG have never had any such arrangement.”

Later in the document, Spotify slammed Drake for filing a pre-petition rather than a full-on case.

“What petitioner is seeking to do here is to bypass the normal pleading requirements,” the wrote. “And obtain by way of pre-action discovery that which it would only be entitled to seek were it to survive a motion to dismiss. This subversion of the normal judicial process should be rejected.”

It continued, “The petition asserts no specific facts of any kind in support of these alleged RICO and deceptive practices violations. Instead, it relies exclusively on speculation or the claims of anonymous individuals on the internet.”

The closed by rebutted the allegation of bot manipulation, writing, “When we identify attempted stream manipulation, we take action that may include removing streaming numbers, withholding royalties and charging penalty fees. Confirmed and suspected artificial streams are also removed from our chart calculations. This helps us to protect royalty payouts for honest, hardworking artists.”

UMG also addressed the matter in a statement of its own (viewable here).

Dr Umar Thinks Drake Has A Case Against UMG Over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”

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In November, Drake filed a pre-action petition against Universal Music Group and Spotify over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” In it, he accuses the companies of artificially boosting the song using bots, payola, and more. He also accuses UMG of defamation, alleging that they could have prevented the release of the song in which Kendrick labels him an alleged predator. Unsurprisingly, this has been one of the Toronto rapper’s most controversial moves yet. While many have been clowning him over it, others think there’s a chance that he could actually expose alleged corruption in the music industry.

During a recent interview with The Art Of Dialogue, for example, Dr Umar Johnson explained why he thinks Drake has a case. “Drake is alleging that Universal Music Group is suppressing his music, suppressing his streams… They haven’t been marketing him as strongly as they have been marketing Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick and Drake are both signed to labels that are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. So that is a conflict of interest. You represent me and you represent my arch nemesis, that’s a conflict of interest,” he alleged.

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Dr Umar Calls UMG Representing Drake & Kendrick Lamar An Alleged “Conflict Of Interest”

“Categorically and qualitatively speaking,” Dr Umar continued, “I have heard Kendrick’s ‘Not Like Us’ a whole lot more since it dropped than I’ve heard Drake. And mind you, even though I don’t listen to them personally […] I’m around enough other people Art, that I know what people are listening to and what’s on the radio is Kendrick and not Drake as much.” Elsewhere in the interview, Dr Umar revealed why he doesn’t listen to Kendrick or Drake, claiming that it’s all because they’ve been in interracial relationships.

“If brother Kendrick who I love and respect, Drake I love and respect, y’all this ain’t no personal issue… But if Kendrick tells me that his fiancée does not identify as a Black woman on a full-time basis then he is a bunny hopper and I cannot listen to his music.”

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Snoop Dogg Can’t Contain His Laughter When Asked About Drake’s UMG Petition

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Snoop Dogg couldn’t help but laugh when Bootleg Kev asked him about Drake’s decision to take legal action against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” The Toronto rapper filed the petitions, complaining about alleged artificial sales and defamation, last month.

“On The West, we hold court in the streets,” Snoop joked after trying to get Kev to move on to the next question. When Kev shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter), fans had mixed responses. “50+ still promoting death in the streets! Would he tell his son to handle it in the streets!” one user wrote. Another added: “For somebody that doesn’t like Drake’s music you sure love bringing him up!”

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Snoop Dogg Poses With Kendrick Lamar At The BET Awards

ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 17: Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar poses backstage during the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on September 17, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Drake filed two petitions against Universal Music Group. In one, he accused the company of allegedly artificially inflating the successes of “Not Like Us.” In a second, he accused them of defamation for not blocking the release of the track, which features several allegations aimed at him. “UMG … could have refused to release or distribute the song or required the offending material to be edited and/or removed,” Drake’s lawyers wrote, as caught by Billboard. “But UMG chose to do the opposite. UMG designed, financed and then executed a plan to turn ‘Not Like Us’ into a viral mega-hit with the intent of using the spectacle of harm to Drake and his businesses to drive consumer hysteria and, of course, massive revenues. That plan succeeded, likely beyond UMG’s wildest expectations.” UMG has already denied any wrongdoing.

The petitions weren’t the only topic related to Drake and Kendrick Lamar that Snoop discussed in the interview. He also spoke about sharing Drake’s diss track, “Taylor Made Freestyle,” and apologizing to Lamar for doing so. Check out Snoop Dogg’s full thoughts on the matter below.

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According To 50 Cent, Drake’s Accusations Against UMG Are Actually An Admission

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It was likely only a matter of time until someone in the recording industry pointed out how Drake’s legal action against Universal Music Group over its promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” could sound very much like a pot calling a kettle black. It’s only right that that person turned out to be 50 Cent, who has never been afraid to bait controversy and has his fair share of battle scars.

During an appearance on BigBoyTV, 50 Cent weighed in on Drake’s controversial move, pointing out how there’s some truth to Drake’s accusations — but those accusations are admissions as much as anything. “What he’s saying the system has done, they’ve done it,” he asserted. “They’re guilty of what he said they did.” He pointed out how during his tenure at Interscope (which is also a subsidiary of UMG, and which distributes Kendrick’s music), the company promoted both sides of his famed battle with former G-Unit member The Game (Look over 50’s shoulder during the interview… UMG isn’t the only one playing both sides). “It’s just business, it’s selling the record,” he said. “But everything he said that they did for Kendrick, they did for him.”

He did allow, though, that he didn’t see the battle as being as damaging to Drake as fans seem to. “Whenever you say you lost something — what exactly did you lose?” he questioned. “There’s nobody who’s a Drake fan who won’t go out to see his show right now.”

You can watch the full interview above.

50 Cent Explains Why Drake’s Kendrick Lamar-Inspired UMG Petition Is Hypocritical

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50 Cent has become an elder statesman in the world of hip-hop and he has certainly seen it all throughout his career. Overall, he is a mogul himself, and he knows how to maneuver contracts. Furthermore, he has a very strong understanding of the music industry and how it has operated for decades. With that being said, he is the perfect person to weigh in on the fight between Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and UMG.

As many of you already know, Drake has filed two petitions against UMG. In the first, he accused UMG of using bots to make Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” a viral hit. Ultimately, he thinks UMG did this to undermine his career and make sure they could pay him less on his next contract. Furthermore, Drake filed a petition for defamation given the allegations that were mentioned in “Not Like Us.” While speaking to legendary radio host Big Boy, 50 Cent gave his unfiltered thoughts on the petition.

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50 Cent Gets Real About Drake

“Everything he (Drake) says they (UMG) did for Kendrick, is something they did for him,” Fif said. Simply put, 50 Cent is calling Drake a bit of a hypocrite here. One can just go back to 2018 when Drake was being featured as the cover art for Spotify playlists that didn’t even contain his music. The Scorpion rollout was a huge industry push, with Drake being forced down people’s throats. However, Drake does not seem to remember that.

As for the allegations that Kendrick used bots, well, that is impossible to say. “Not Like Us” was a mega-hit and was going to be a smash whether or not bots ever got involved. Kendrick’s new album GNX is the perfect example of how he can make a hit without ever mentioning Drake’s name. Only time will tell whether or not Drake’s petitions will prove to be successful. Or if they just completely backfire on him.

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Drake’s Petition Against UMG & Spotify Over “Not Like Us” Gets Hearing Date

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Late last month, Drake decided to take legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss track “Not Like Us.” In a pre-action petition, he accuses UMG and Spotify of using bots, payola, and more to artificially inflate the popularity of the song. He also accuses UMG of defamation, alleging that they could have prevented the release of the song in which Kendrick accuses him of being a sexual predator.

“UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices,” the petition alleges. “It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.” Now, a hearing has been scheduled for December 20, according to Kurrco. It remains to be seen what exactly will play out in this case, but of course, social media users have their theories. There have been mixed reactions to Drake’s petition since news of it hit the internet. Some think Drake has a chance of exposing alleged corruption in the music industry. Others think this just makes him look jealous of Kendrick’s success.

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Hearing For Drake’s Petition Against UMG & Spotify Scheduled For December 20

During a recent episode of his Apple Music show, for example, Ebro shared why he thinks Drake will end up taking a loss. “I’ve worked in the radio business and the media for 30 years,” he said. “There’s allegations of payola… I’ve been investigated, people I’ve worked with been investigated and nothing has ever come to fruition.” Funkmaster Flex, on the other hand, thinks Drake is in the right.

“DRAKE IS 100% RIGHT!” he wrote in part on X. “NATIONAL PLAY! (PER SONG) DRAKE DONT $ FOR PLAY! POP / CHR RADIO: $350k URBAN RADIO: $250K MIXSHOW: $100K LOCAL MIXSHOW DIRECTOR: $40k LOCAL DJ: $3K-5K PER SONG! (DJS ON THE RADIO 5 DAYS A WEEK) THIS IS WHY INDEPENDENT ARTIST DONT RISE TO THE TOP! ALL YOU ARTIST KNOW I AINT NEVER TAKE A DIME FROM YOU, YOUR MANAGER OR YOUR LABELS!”

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Ebro Claims “Nothing Has Ever Come” From Drake’s Payola Allegations

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Drake has taken the music industry to task. The rapper is suing his own label, Universal Music Group, and Spotify for allegedly using shady business tactics. Drake believes the two companies used payola and “schemes” to boost the numbers for Kendrick Lamar’s diss song, “Not Like Us.” The industry has been extremely critical of the 6 God as a result. Some believe the Toronto rapper is being a hypocrite, while others, like Ebro Darden, believe he’s setting himself up for a loss.

Ebro discussed the Drake lawsuit during an episode of his Apple Music show. He acknowledged that the rapper has been tremendously successful over the years. He also called Drake out for trying to prove an allegation that has hounded the music industry for decades. An allegation that Ebro suggests is not really true. “I’ve worked in the radio business and the media for 30 years,” he explained. “There’s allegations of payola… I’ve been investigated, people I’ve worked with been investigated and nothing has ever come to fruition.” Ebro assured fans that he has never taken money to promote an artist, and has therefore never been at risk for legal action.

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Ebro Assures Fans He’s Never Accepted Payola

Ebro Darden claims that he has never taken money because he believes it “disables your ability to say ‘f*ck off’ when you hate a song.” He believes that any radio personality or tastemaker who would take money would be compromised, because they would be at the beck and call of a given artist or record label. Ebro backed up his claim of not accepting payola by listing off the famous artists who’ve never granted him an interview. “I’ve never sat with Kanye, I’ve never sat with Hov,” he asserted. “Never sat with Beyonce.”

The reason Ebro doubts Drake’s payola allegations is that he believes it takes a lot more to launch an artist. “If it’s as easy as just paying to get your record popping, go,” he asserted. “The truth of the matter is it’s not that easy.” At the end of the day, the radio host believes that it comes down to people’s tastes. “To get popping,” he restated. “That’s the people’s decision.” His example? Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

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UMG Reposts Kendrick Lamar Tour Dates Amidst Drake Legal Battle

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Drake has seemingly made enemies on all sides. He was dissed by countless other superstars, and now he’s taking legal action against his own label, Universal Music Group. The rapper alleges that the record label boosted streams of Kendrick Lamar’s diss “Not Like Us.” Lamar is also part of the UMG family, and he recently announced the Grand National Tour with SZA. Instead of staying out of the Drake and Lamar conflict, the label decided to show their support for the latter via social media.

Kendrick Lamar released the tour dates via Instagram on December 3. The dates span North America, and will be a co-headline tour with his former TDE label mate, SZA. Fans everywhere flocked to the IG comment section to voice their excitement. UMG decided to get in on the fun, and reposted the cover image and the tour dates for Grand National. It makes sense that UMG would want to promote artists who net them major profit, and Lamar has had a banner year thanks to “Not Like Us.” Still, it’s easy to look at what the label is doing as a subtle slight to Drake.

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Kendrick Lamar’s pgLang Has A Deal With UMG

Universal Music Group issued a statement shortly after Drake made his lawsuit plans public. The label denied any wrongdoing in the promotion of Lamar’s single. Furthermore, they criticized the 6 God and implied that Lamar was simply more popular with listeners. “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns,” UMG stated. “No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”

The Grand National Tour has also garnered intrigue from Drake haters for its Toronto date. Lamar and SZA are set to perform in the 6 God’s hometown on June 14, which is just a few days short of Father’s Day. Lamar repeatedly bashed Drake for his parenting skills throughout their battle. He went as far as to allege that Drizzy has a daughter that he’s hiding from the world. Fans theorize that Lamar has chosen his Toronto date as an additional dig. Regardless of the intention, UMG appears to be onboard with the Compton icon.

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Drake Hit With Charlamagne Tha God’s “Donkey Of The Day” Label Over His UMG Lawsuit

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Charlamagne Tha God went off on a heated rant about Drake and labeled the Toronto rapper the “donkey of the day” during the latest episode of The Breakfast Club. He discussed Drake’s decision to take legal action against Universal Music Group, arguing that his complaints in the filing are hypocritical. Drake has accused the label of allegedly artificially boosting the streams of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

“Whatever the label UMG was doing to promote ‘Not Like Us,’ they were doing the same thing for you your whole career. If one of those diss records you put out would’ve taken off and been a cultural phenomenon like ‘Not Like Us,’ the record label would’ve pushed that too,” Charlamagne argued.

Read More Charlamagne Tha God, Mustard And More Clown Drake For UMG Petition

Kendrick Lamar Performs During The Pop Out

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 19: Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during The Pop Out – Ken & Friends Presented by pgLang and Free Lunch at The Kia Forum on June 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Timothy Norris/Getty Images for pgLang, Amazon Music, & Free Lunch)

Charlamagne then turned his attention to Drake’s defenders. “Anybody acting like this is anything more than Drake’s feelings being hurt, you a hoe too,” he remarked. “An O-V-Hoe to be exact. ‘He’s fighting the same war that Michael Jackson fought. Drake is taking a stand for the art and the artist.’ People who are running with that narrative would hold Drake’s penis while he pees and shake it for him when he’s finished.” Before wrapping up, Charlamagne joked that Lamar told Drake to “squabble up” not “lawyer up.”

Charlamagne Tha God Goes Off On Drake

Charlamagne also recommended Drake take a page out of J Cole’s playbook and focus on nostalgia and take fans back to the good old days. Cole is currently adding his mixtapes to streaming services and releasing an audio series documenting the making of them. Check out Charlamagne Tha God’s full take on Drake suing Univeral Music Group below.

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