Drake’s team claim Universal “artificially inflated” Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ streaming numbers

Drake and his team have filed a legal dispute against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify for allegedly “artificially inflating” Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ streaming numbers. 

• READ MORE: Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud: the full timeline

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

According to the legal document, UMG is accused of offering Spotify compensation to recommend the song to Spotify subscribers: “On information and belief, UMG charged Spotify licensing rates 30 per cent lower than its usual licensing rates for ‘Not Like Us’ in exchange for Spotify affirmatively recommending the song to users who are searching for other unrelated songs and artists.” UMG has said the allegations in the court document are untrue.

The dispute also targets UMG more, and only names Spotify in a few instances.

It also alleges that Spotify and UMG did not disclose the compensation, which the document claims was made through “wires or mails”. 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 spread of ‘Not Like Us’ and deceive consumers into believing the song was more popular that it was in reality.”

The document also alleges that Drake had tried to speak with UMG on the matter, but the label denied accountability and instead suggested that the Canadian rapper “should initiate legal action” against Kendrick Lamar.

Further down in the document, Frozen Movements LLC alleged that “UMG’s schemes to artificially inflate the popularity of ‘Not Like Us’ were motivated, at least in part, by the desire of executives at Interscope to maximise their own profits.”

The document also shows that Drake has not sought for damages and payment, but instead is seeking for UMG to disclose all “documents and communications sufficient to show the identities of all third parties that UMG, its agents, or anyone working on behalf of UMG/Interscope paid (without public disclosure) to promote, publish, or recommend the song, its accompanying cover image, or video, including but not limited to, radio stations, influencers, music platforms, and music publications, as well as the dates, methods, and amounts of those payments.”

It is also worth nothing that the dispute is technically not a full lawsuit. Rather, it has been filed as a “pre-action” petition, which under New York law is a procedure filed to secure information prior to a formal lawsuit.

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

In a statement to Rolling Stone, a rep for UMG denied the allegations: “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.”

Spotify and Kendrick Lamar have yet to respond to the filing. NME has reached out to both parties for comment.

Per The Independent, Spotify have previously said regarding a similar case that it “invests heavily in automated and manual reviews to prevent, detect, and mitigate the impact of artificial streaming on our platform.”

The document’s filing comes shortly after Kendrick Lamar surprise-released the album ‘GNX’ over the weekend. On Sunday night (November 25), Drake appeared on a livestream, where he told the chat, “You need facts to take me out. Fairytales won’t do it” – possibly referring to the allegations that sprouted from his and Lamar’s rap battle back in April this year.

He also announced his first Australia tour in eight years, which is due to kick off on the same day as Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance on February 9.

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