**Drake Launches Second Salvo in Battle Against Universal Music Group and iHeartRadio: A Defamation Lawsuit**
In a shocking escalation of the high-stakes rap beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the former has filed a second lawsuit, this time alleging defamation against Universal Music Group (UMG) and iHeartRadio. The latest complaint, filed on the heels of a Monday lawsuit claiming payola and market manipulation, accuses UMG and iHeartRadio of conspiring against him.
**”Not Like Us” Ignites Firestorm**
Lamar’s incendiary track “Not Like Us” has set off a media maelstrom, with the dancey, anthemic rap song not only achieving a record-breaking tenure at the top of the Billboard rap chart but also sparking a bitter feud with Drake. The song’s lyrics, which level scathing accusations against Drake, including claims of harboring a entourage replete with “certified pedophiles”, have stoked the controversy.
**”Not Like Us” Achieves Unprecedented Success**
The song’s chart-topping performance has been nothing short of phenomenal, with a record-breaking tenure at the top of the Billboard rap chart and two separate stints as the number one U.S. song on any chart. Furthermore, the track has racked up an astonishing 900 million Spotify streams, all but cementing its status as a cultural juggernaut. Moreover, the song has earned five Grammy nominations, including one for the track’s producer.
**Universal Music Group Fires Back**
A spokesperson for UMG has vehemently denied the allegations, characterizing them as “offensive and untrue.” The statement went on to assert that “no amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.” Meanwhile, Spotify has declined to comment on the controversy.
**Drake’s Lawyers Argue UMG Failed to Protect Him from Defamation**
Drake’s lawyers contend that UMG failed to intervene to prevent Lamar from defaming him on “Not Like Us,” which they argue constitutes a breach of its obligations to protect its artist. As the label that licenses Drake’s music under its Republic label, alongside releases from Drake’s own Canadian label OVO Sound, UMG has a vested interest in safeguarding its artist’s reputation.
**Kendrick Lamar Releases Surprise Album Amid Controversy**
Amidst the tumult, Lamar dropped his surprise album _GNX_ just days after the lawsuits were filed. According to The Ringer’s Charles Holmes, _GNX_ is “a 45-minute treatise on the power of rolling up to your biggest hater’s funeral to ensure they’ve departed this mortal coil.”
**Why Kendrick Lamar Isn’t Named in the Lawsuits**
Interestingly, Lamar himself has not been named in any of the lawsuits. However, the filings argue that UMG showed favoritism for monetary gain between two artists signed under Universal at the expense of Drake’s reputation.
