Drake has taken further legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG), claiming that the label defamed him by releasing Kendrick Lamar’s track “Not Like Us.” This is the second legal petition Drake has filed against UMG this week. He alleges that the label engaged in unethical tactics to promote Lamar’s diss track. According to Billboard, the new petition, filed in Bexar County, Texas, asserts that “Not Like Us” harms Drake’s reputation by making false accusations of criminal sexual behavior. Additionally, the petition accuses UMG of engaging in a pay-to-play scheme with iHeartRadio.
This filing follows an earlier petition submitted to the New York Supreme Court on November 25. In that case, Drake’s attorneys accused UMG and Spotify of manipulating streaming services and airwaves to benefit the release of “Not Like Us.” The accusations include paying influencers for promotion, purchasing radio plays, using bots to increase streams, and altering licensing rates with Spotify.