The ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar takes a turn as a judge allows Drake to pursue evidence he claims is crucial for his defamation lawsuit.
Drake Granted Access to Kendrick Lamar's Contracts Amid Ongoing Defamation Suit
Drake Granted Access to Kendrick Lamar's Contracts Amid Ongoing Defamation Suit
In a legal battle over Kendrick Lamar's controversial song, Drake has gained access to key documents from Universal Music Group, including contracts and executive salaries.
Drake's defamation case against Kendrick Lamar has taken a significant step forward after a court ruling enabled the rapper to access sensitive documents from Universal Music Group (UMG). The decision follows Drake’s claims that Lamar’s song, "Not Like Us," spreads damaging and false accusations against him, branding him a paedophile.
Drake's legal team has requested Lamar's recording contract and information regarding compensation and bonuses for key UMG executives, particularly data dating back to 2020. This request comes after Universal attempted to dismiss the case, arguing that it was an unreasonable effort to restrain Lamar’s artistic expression. However, Judge Jeannette A Vargas ruled that the discovery process should continue, much to the delight of Drake’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, who hinted at undisclosed information lurking within UMG's archives.
In court documents, Drake articulates that UMG knew the lyrics posed by Lamar were baseless but chose to support the narrative for financial gain. Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses UMG of colluding with Spotify to artificially inflate streaming statistics for "Not Like Us." Both companies have denied such allegations, emphasizing that they hold no interest in tarnishing Drake's reputation.
Universal stated that these accusations are unfounded and asserted that Drake has, throughout his career, utilized UMG to disseminate his music while partaking in competitive rap exchanges. They maintain that the artist is now attempting to leverage legal avenues to suppress another musician's creative endeavors.
"Not Like Us," which gained momentum following its performance at the Super Bowl Half Time Show, has emerged as Kendrick Lamar's breakout single, marking his first number one in the UK charts. As the legal proceedings progress, the intrigue surrounding the rivalry between these two hip-hop titans continues to unfold.
