Drake’s Legal Team Accuses UMG of Exploiting Artists and Dodging Accountability

Drake is refusing to back down in his legal fight with Universal Music Group, claiming the powerhouse label wants to keep its alleged mistreatment of artists hidden from public view.

Following a key hearing on Monday, Drake’s attorneys argued that UMG is pushing for the defamation case to be dismissed in order to avoid scrutiny.

“UMG is desperate to see this case not move forward because the company can’t hide its misconduct in a courtroom the way it does in the boardroom,” a spokesperson for Drake told AllHipHop. “Soon, in addition to facing concerned regulators and investors, the leadership of music’s most powerful label will have to answer for the damage it has caused to every artist that has been silenced, exploited, endangered or discarded.”

The dispute stems from Kendrick Lamar’s explosive diss track “Not Like Us,” which includes the lyric “certified pedophile.”

Drake argues the line was defamatory and that UMG helped push the song to wider audiences, worsening the damage to his name.

UMG fired back, defending the diss as part of Hip-Hop culture, calling it “trash-talking in the extreme,” and claiming it shouldn’t be taken as factual. They also noted that Drake has traded in similar lyrical jabs throughout his own career.

Judge Jeannette Vargas didn’t issue a ruling but questioned how listeners interpret lyrics. Meanwhile, Drake’s team also accused UMG of using bots to boost the track’s streams, further hurting artists by manipulating payouts.