Drake’s lawyers claim the success of Kendrick’s ‘Not Like Us’ is artificial

On November 26, 2024By Littum

After seemingly losing the biggest rap feud of 2024 to Compton native Kendrick Lamar, it looks like Drake is working with the judges.

The Canadian rapper’s lawyers claimed in a legal filing Monday that Universal Music Group and Spotify “conspired to artificially increase the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us'” Billboard reports.

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The two rappers – real names Aubrey Drake Graham and Kendrick Lamar Duckworth – released a series of scathing diss tracks aimed at each other earlier this year.

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However, Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC claims that Spotify used payola and bots to artificially boost “Not Like Us.”

“UMG did not rely on chance or even common business practice,” Drake’s lawyers wrote, as reported by Billboard. “It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.”

The timing of the filing, which Billboard notes could precede a lawsuit, is notable as Lamar on Friday released the surprise album “GNX,” a love letter to Los Angeles that continued his feud with Drake. Lamar also released the first music video from the project, “Squabble Up,” on Monday.

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Spotify declined comment, and UMG did not return a request for comment from Billboard.

Lamar has not publicly responded to Drake’s claims, but if the past is any indication, he likely will in a future song.

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