Drake has withdrawn his petition against Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) after accusing them of orchestrating an illegal “scheme” to boost streams for Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss track “Not Like Us.”
In a Tuesday filing, the “Certified Lover Boy” star and his company Frozen Moments dropped their request for pre-action disclosure and preservation of key documents from Spotify and UMG. The filing notes that after a meeting with both companies, Spotify—despite previously opposing the petition—had no objections to the withdrawal. UMG, which hadn’t formally opposed the filing, reserved its stance.
Drake’s accusations in November 2024 sent shockwaves through the music industry. He alleged that UMG, which distributes music for both himself and Lamar, used bots and payola tactics to artificially inflate streams for Lamar’s track. The petition claimed UMG “engaged in conduct designed to inflate the popularity of ‘Not Like Us’… including licensing the song at reduced rates and deploying bots to create a false sense of popularity.”
UMG refuted Drake’s claims, stating, “The suggestion that UMG would undermine its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in marketing. No absurd legal arguments will obscure that fans choose the music they want.”
Spotify also denied any manipulation, asserting they had “no economic incentive” to prioritize Lamar’s track over Drake’s. They disclosed an ad in France as the only promotional effort for “Not Like Us.”
The feud ignited after Lamar’s verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” in March 2024, escalating into a year-defining rap battle culminating with Lamar’s chart-topping “Not Like Us,” which suggested Drake may be a “pedophile.” This accusation was also a large part of his legal filing, claiming defamation.
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