Universal Music Group has motioned to dismiss Drake‘s updated defamation lawsuit over the release of Kendrick Lamar‘s “Not Like Us”, writing that the rapper’s allegations in opposition to the music large “are no more than Drake’s attempt to save face for his unsuccessful rap battle with Lamar.”
The movement comes weeks after Drake filed an amended complaint within the case in opposition to his personal report firm, alleging that Lamar’s Super Bowl efficiency — and Lamar omitting the phrase “pedophile” throughout “Not Like Us” — affirmed his declare that the music’s lyrics had been defamatory.
In UMG’s dismissal movement, filed late Wednesday night and reviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, the corporate referred to as Drake’s claims “astonishing,” additional stating that the truth that Lamar didn’t use the phrase “pedophile” “betrays this case for what it is: Drake’s attack on the commercial and creative success of the rap artist who defeated him, rather than the content of Lamar’s lyrics.”
“The amended complaint is without merit and should be dismissed with prejudice,” UMG stated.
Drake first sued UMG — not Lamar — over the music’s launch back in January, alleging that the corporate “decided to publish, promote, exploit and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false, but dangerous.” “UMG did so not because it believes any of these false claims to be true, but instead because it would profit from damaging Drake’s reputation,” Drake’s preliminary criticism stated.
The music grew to become one of many largest songs of 2024 and received Grammys for report and music of the yr again in February. In the swimsuit, Drake’s workforce stated the rapper was the topic of harassment for the reason that music launched. Before the amended criticism, Drake’s workforce was granted permission to ask for paperwork together with Kendrick Lamar’s report deal and incentive plans for Interscope CEO John Janick. A rep for Drake’s authorized workforce didn’t instantly reply to request for touch upon UMG’s dismissal movement.
UMG’s movement seems to attempt to paint Drake’s authorized actions as hypocritical, as the corporate stated that “Drake was pleased to use UMG’s platform to promote tracks leveling similarly incendiary attacks at Lamar, including that Lamar engaged in domestic abuse and that one of Lamar’s managers is the true father of Lamar’s son.” Only after he misplaced the battle, UMG stated, did Drake name “Not Like Us” defamatory.
UMG additionally claimed that “diss tracks throughout rap history” are recognized for “a series of hyperbolic insults,” and that the artwork kind can be “chilled if Drake’s suit were permitted to proceed.”
The firm issued a prolonged assertion late Wednesday, writing that “nowhere in the hundred-plus page “legal” blather written by Drake’s legal professionals do they trouble to acknowledge that Drake himself has written and carried out massively profitable songs containing equally provocative taunts in opposition to different artists.”
The firm additionally claimed Drake’s authorized workforce was on the lookout for “evidence of wild conspiracies as to why one song that upset Drake had massive global appeal, but there is nothing to “uncover.”
By working tirelessly in partnership with our artists, we obtain international success for them and their music. Our persevering with partnership with Drake and his enduring success is a shining instance,” UMG stated. “Despite his lawyers’ attempts to silence other artists and threaten the companies that work with them, we remain committed to propelling Drake’s career while maintaining our unwavering support of all our artists’ creative expression. Drake’s included.”
