Drake’s Team Claims Universal ‘Artificially Inflated’ Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ Streaming Songs

In the new file – which can be viewed here – Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC has accused UMG and Spotify of “illegally” aiding and abetting “Not Like Us” streams to benefit Kendrick Lamar – who entered into a viral rap feud with Drake earlier this year.

According to the legal document, UMG is accused of offering Spotify compensation to recommend the song to Spotify subscribers: “Based on information and belief, UMG charged Spotify licensing rates 30 percent lower than the usual licensing rates for ‘Not Like Us’ in exchange for Spotify affirmatively recommends the song to users looking for other unrelated songs and artists. UMG has said the allegations in the court document are untrue.

The dispute also focuses more on UMG and only mentions Spotify in a few cases.

It also claims that Spotify and UMG did not disclose the compensation, while the document claims it was made via “wires or emails.” It then goes on to allege that, according to a whistleblower, UMG and Interscope Records “also conspired with and paid currently unknown parties to use ‘bots’ to artificially inflate the distribution of ‘Not Like Us’ and trick consumers into believing the song was better.” more popular than it actually was.”

The document also claims that Drake attempted to speak to UMG about the issue, but the label denied liability and instead suggested that the Canadian rapper “should take legal action” against Kendrick Lamar.

Later in the document, Frozen Movements LLC claimed that “UMG’s plans to artificially inflate the popularity of ‘Not Like Us’ were motivated, at least in part, by the desire of Interscope executives to maximize their own profits.”

The document also reveals that Drake has not requested damages and payment, but instead wants UMG to disclose all “documents and communications sufficient to reveal the identity of any third parties that UMG, its agents, or anyone acting on behalf of UMG works/Interscope has paid (without public disclosure) to promote, publish or endorse the song, its associated cover photo or video, including but not limited to radio stations, influencers, music platforms and music publications, as well as the dates, methods, and amounts of that one payments.”

It’s also worth nothing that the dispute isn’t technically a full-blown lawsuit. Rather, it was filed as a “pre-action” petition, which under New York law is a proceeding filed to secure information prior to a formal lawsuit.

Through a “pre-action” petition, the named parties – as requested by Drake’s team – will not necessarily be involved or targeted if a formal lawsuit is filed at a later date.

In a statement to Rolling stonea UMG representative denied the allegations: “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine one of its artists is insulting 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 entry can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”

Spotify and Kendrick Lamar have not yet responded to the filing. NME has asked both parties for comment.

Per The independentSpotify has previously said of a similar case that it is “investing heavily in automated and manual reviews to prevent, detect and mitigate the impact of artificial streaming on our platform.”

The filing comes shortly after Kendrick Lamar surprisingly released the album ‘GNX’ this weekend. On Sunday evening (November 25), Drake appeared on a livestream, where he said to the chat: ‘You need facts to pick me out. Fairy tales won’t do it” – possibly referring to the accusations that stemmed from the rap battle between him and Lamar in April of this year.

He too announced its first Australian tour in eight yearswhich will start on the same day as Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show appearance on February 9.