Drake Accuses UMG and Spotify of Boosting Kendrick Lamar's Diss Track
Drake has filed a legal petition accusing Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify of artificially inflating the success of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us. The petition, submitted by Drake's company, Frozen Moments LLC, claims the song’s streams and airplay were manipulated using bots, payola, and other tactics to boost its popularity.
The feud between Drake and Lamar, two of hip-hop’s biggest stars, escalated earlier this year with both releasing diss tracks. Lamar’s Not Like Us, which includes scathing lyrics directed at Drake, became a massive hit, amassing nearly 900 million Spotify streams and reaching number one on the U.S. charts. Drake’s legal team, however, argues that its success wasn’t organic.
The petition alleges that UMG offered Spotify lower licensing fees in exchange for promoting Lamar’s song, even claiming that it was recommending it to users searching for unrelated content. It also references claims from a whistleblower on a podcast, who said they were paid $2,500 to deploy bots to repeatedly stream the song, turning it into “a crazy hit.” Reports of similar misdirection on Apple’s Siri were also cited.
UMG has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “offensive and untrue.” A spokesperson stated, “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns…. Fans choose the music they want to hear.” Spotify and Lamar have yet to comment on the matter.
Drake’s lawyers claim these actions harmed him economically, as “streaming is a zero-sum game,” meaning one song’s rise can hinder another’s success. They also allege UMG fired employees perceived as loyal to Drake in an effort to conceal its actions.
Though the petition is not a full lawsuit, it seeks to preserve documents and evidence that could support future legal action. Drake’s team says attempts to resolve the issue privately with UMG were unsuccessful.
This legal filing marks a significant escalation in the artists' feud, which began in 2013 with Lamar taking public jabs at Drake. Despite their early collaborations, the two have grown increasingly hostile, culminating in this year’s diss tracks.
The controversy comes amid a wave of success for Lamar. Not Like Us has earned four Grammy nominations, and the rapper is set to headline next year’s Super Bowl halftime show. However, Drake remains ahead in global popularity, ranking as Spotify’s 13th most-streamed artist compared to Lamar’s 23rd.
It remains unclear if Drake’s claims will lead to a full lawsuit, but the case highlights tensions between artists and the streaming industry over alleged manipulation tactics. Whether fans truly chose Not Like Us or were steered toward it remains a central question.
