Drake has decided to withdraw his legal claims against Universal Music and Spotify, ending a case that accused the companies of attempting to manipulate the streams of Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us." The legal action, taken last November, included allegations that the companies employed bots and unethical promotional practices to inflate the song’s reach, which accused Drake of inappropriate behavior.
On Tuesday, Drake's legal representatives voluntarily dismissed the pre-action petition they filed in New York, which sought access to internal documents from Spotify and Universal that might substantiate their claims. This decision followed a meeting with officials from the two companies where both Spotify and Universal acknowledged the withdrawal, with Universal reserving its stance on the case.
While the case against Universal and iHeartRadio in Texas remains ongoing, the withdrawal highlights the complex dynamics in the ongoing feud between the two rappers. The song "Not Like Us" is considered a pivotal moment in their rivalry stretching back to the early 2010s, with Lamar’s lyrics accusing Drake of inappropriate conduct and leveraging other artists to enhance his public image.
Drake responded swiftly with "The Heart Part 6," categorically denying Lamar's claims. However, his response did not garner as much traction as "Not Like Us," which made a major impact, debuting at number one in the U.S. charts and achieving over a billion streams on Spotify.
In his court filings, Drake alleged that the label offered reduced licensing rates to Spotify, artificially inflating the song’s apparent popularity. Both Universal and Spotify strongly refuted these claims, with Universal stating that such allegations undermine their commitment to ethical business practices.
Legal experts initially questioned whether Drake's accusations would make it to court, suggesting that he might be using the legal procedure to extract information from Universal for possible future claims. However, some legal analysts indicated that pursuing legal action could ultimately backfire on Drake’s reputation, as it brings unwanted attention to the very accusations he disputes.
On Tuesday, Drake's legal representatives voluntarily dismissed the pre-action petition they filed in New York, which sought access to internal documents from Spotify and Universal that might substantiate their claims. This decision followed a meeting with officials from the two companies where both Spotify and Universal acknowledged the withdrawal, with Universal reserving its stance on the case.
While the case against Universal and iHeartRadio in Texas remains ongoing, the withdrawal highlights the complex dynamics in the ongoing feud between the two rappers. The song "Not Like Us" is considered a pivotal moment in their rivalry stretching back to the early 2010s, with Lamar’s lyrics accusing Drake of inappropriate conduct and leveraging other artists to enhance his public image.
Drake responded swiftly with "The Heart Part 6," categorically denying Lamar's claims. However, his response did not garner as much traction as "Not Like Us," which made a major impact, debuting at number one in the U.S. charts and achieving over a billion streams on Spotify.
In his court filings, Drake alleged that the label offered reduced licensing rates to Spotify, artificially inflating the song’s apparent popularity. Both Universal and Spotify strongly refuted these claims, with Universal stating that such allegations undermine their commitment to ethical business practices.
Legal experts initially questioned whether Drake's accusations would make it to court, suggesting that he might be using the legal procedure to extract information from Universal for possible future claims. However, some legal analysts indicated that pursuing legal action could ultimately backfire on Drake’s reputation, as it brings unwanted attention to the very accusations he disputes.
