Speculation is swirling that Drake is uneasy about Kendrick Lamar potentially performing his diss track, Not Like Us, during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on February 9.
In case you missed it, Drake recently filed lawsuits against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, accusing them of using payola to artificially boost Not Like Us’s popularity. However, insiders cited by The Daily Mail suggest suggest that the underlying motive may be to prevent Kendrick Lamar from performing his diss track, “Not Like Us,” at the upcoming Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.
“Universal bosses are shocked that Drake is suing them, and some suspect it’s a strategic move to stop Kendrick from performing the track at the event,” an insider claimed.
Drake recently filed two pre-action petitions in connection to Kendrick Lamar’s single “Not Like Us.” The first one, filed in New York Supreme Court on Monday (Nov. 25), accuses UMG and Spotify of conspiring to artificially inflate “Not Like Us” numbers by using bots and payola. UMG is also accused of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, the NY Deceptive Business Act and the NY False Advertising Act in doing so.
The second legal action, filed in Texas, accuses UMG of defamation for releasing “Not Like Us,” which was “falsely accusing [Drake] of being a sex offender,” and colluding with iHeartRadio in a play-for-pay scheme.
Drake’s legal team stated, “UMG could have refused to release or distribute the song or required the offending material to be edited and/or removed. Instead, UMG designed, financed, and executed a plan to turn Not Like Us into a viral mega-hit, using the spectacle of harm to Drake and his businesses to drive consumer hysteria and, ultimately, massive revenues. That plan succeeded, likely beyond UMG’s wildest expectations.”
Drake has been affiliated with UMG since the start of his career, first through Young Money/Republic and later signing a $400 million deal directly with Republic Records in 2022. Despite the ongoing legal battle, UMG has no plans to sever ties with the rapper.
A UMG spokesperson told TMZ, “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. 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.”