New York, New York – Universal Music Group has made a bold move to dismiss Drake’s lawsuit against them in New York for promoting Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” claiming that the lawsuit stems from Drake’s displeasure after losing a rap battle.
In the motion filed recently by Universal, they assert that Drake initiated and lost a rap battle with Lamar, leading to his decision to take legal action against his own record label. Universal argues that the claims made by Drake against them are baseless and should be dismissed with prejudice.
Drake, who previously criticized the use of artists’ creative expression against them, is now being accused of filing a lawsuit against Universal to save face after his rap battle loss. Universal contends that Drake’s claims lack merit and that the lawsuit should be thrown out.
The motion filed by Universal disputes Drake’s allegations of defamation, arguing that the song “Not Like Us” contains opinions and rhetorical hyperbole rather than factual statements. Universal further asserts that there is no basis for the lawsuit as Drake failed to establish a claim for harassment and defamation under New York law.
In response to Universal’s motion, Drake’s attorney accuses Universal of trying to distract the public from their alleged misconduct by framing the lawsuit as a mere rap battle dispute. Drake’s attorney insists that the lawsuit will proceed to hold Universal accountable for their actions.
Drake initially filed the lawsuit against Universal in January, accusing the record company of promoting a rap track that falsely portrayed him as a criminal pedophile. The track, “Not Like Us,” allegedly sparked controversy during the ongoing beef between Drake and Lamar.
In a separate legal move, Universal sought to dismiss Drake’s request for a pre-suit deposition in Texas, citing a lack of evidence to support Drake’s claims of artificial promotion of the track.
The legal battle between Drake and Universal over the promotion of “Not Like Us” continues to unfold, shedding light on the complex dynamics of the music industry and the repercussions of creative expression in the realm of rap music.