By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Drake sued his longtime label on Wednesday, accusing Common Music Group (AS:) of defamation for selling Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” saying the track’s false accusation that the Canadian rapper is a pedophile has put him and his household at risk.
In a grievance in Manhattan federal courtroom, Drake stated the track was “supposed to convey the particular, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a legal pedophile” and the general public ought to exert “vigilante justice” in response.
Drake stated it led to tried break-ins at his residence, prompting him to journey with further safety, and pull his seven-year-old son from his Toronto elementary faculty and the Toronto space.
He and Lamar, an American rapper who gained the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, have feuded for a few decade. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for defamation and harassment.
“UMG might spin this grievance as a rap beef gone authorized, however this lawsuit will not be a few confrontation between artists,” in line with the grievance from Drake, whose given title is Aubrey Drake Graham.
“However a relationship spanning greater than a decade, UMG deliberately sought to show Drake right into a pariah, a goal for harassment, or worse,” the grievance added. “UMG selected company greed over the protection and well-being of its artists.”
In a press release, UMG stated it has not defamed anybody, known as Drake’s claims unfaithful, and stated it could be illogical to hurt his repute after investing massively to make him commercially and financially profitable.
UMG additionally accused Drake of attempting to “weaponize” the authorized course of in in search of damages, and attempting to silence Lamar’s inventive expression for “having finished nothing greater than write a track.”
Lamar will not be a defendant, although Drake known as “Not Like Us” defamatory. Drake’s attorneys had no extra remark.
COMPETING ‘DISS’ TRACKS
Wednesday’s lawsuit adopted a November petition in a New York state courtroom during which Drake, via his firm Frozen Moments, accused UMG and Spotify (NYSE:) of utilizing payola and streaming bots to advertise “Not Like Us” at his music’s expense.
Drake withdrew that petition on Tuesday evening. His associated case towards UMG and radio firm iHeartMedia (NASDAQ:) stays pending in a Texas state courtroom, on-line information present.
The feud between Drake and Lamar has performed out partly via so-called “diss” tracks together with “Not Like Us.”
In that track, launched final Might 4, Lamar talked about Drake by title, saying “Drake, I hear you want ’em younger” and calling him and others “licensed pedophiles.”
A day earlier, Drake launched “Household Issues,” showing to accuse Lamar of bodily abuse and infidelity, and questioning whether or not Lamar’s enterprise accomplice fathered one in all his kids.
“Not Like Us” topped Billboard’s Scorching 100 for 2 weeks final 12 months. It obtained 5 nominations for the Feb. 2 Grammy Awards, together with report of the 12 months and track of the 12 months.
The case is Graham v UMG Recordings Inc, U.S. District Court docket, Southern District of New York, No. 25-00399.
