Drake Sues Universal Over Defamation, Denies Kendrick’s Pedophile Claim

Drake has stepped up his legal battle against Universal Music Group (UMG), filing a defamation suit accusing the label of spreading a “false and malicious narrative” that he is a pedophile.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in New York City, alleges that UMG knowingly released and promoted Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” which Drake claims falsely portrays him as a pedophile.

In court documents obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Drake claims that the lyrics and images in the accompanying music video were defamatory and that UMG was fully aware of their potential harm. This lawsuit marks the latest escalation in an ongoing feud between Drake and his label.

Newsweek contacted Drake’s representatives via email Wednesday morning.

Drake’s defamation suit against UMG is the latest chapter in his escalating conflict with the label. The Canadian rapper previously sued both UMG and a major music streaming platform last year, accusing them of colluding to prioritize one of Kendrick Lamar’s songs over his own.

The lawsuit adds a new layer to the high-profile conflict between the two rap icons and their record label’s role in the dispute.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.