drake isn't backing down in the war against his own label, but has now even upped the ante by suing Universal Music Group for spreading the “false and malicious narrative” that he is a pedophile… TMZ Hip Hop has learned.
Drake filed a defamation lawsuit in federal court in New York on Wednesday morning … condemning UMG for its publication and promotion Kendrick Lamaris the vicious diss track “Not Like Us.” In the documents obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Drake says that UMG was well aware of Kendrick's lyrics and the images in the music video that called Drake a pedophile were false and dangerous.
In the lawsuit, he calls Kendrick's hit — full of “inflammatory and shocking allegations” — a “goldmine” for UMG … and he says they had an ulterior financial motive in promoting it.
Drake claims his label did everything it could to push “Not Like Us” because it knew it would devalue Drake's music and brand…and thus give UMG leverage in future contract negotiations with Drake.
Drake says he has bot receipts that show how far the label went to turn Kendrick's song into an anthem. According to the lawsuit, UMG paid a third party to use bots to increase the song's streams by at least 30 million – and entered into a “pay-for-play” program with at least one radio broadcaster.
He claims UMG labeled “Not Like Us” a “chart-topper” even though he knew the title was based on fraudulent data.
It's also clear that Drake is very aware of what's happening in New Orleans next month – in the lawsuit he claims UMG was involved in getting Kendrick the Super Bowl halftime performance …so that the song could be performed on this massive stage, which he describes as “one of the most significant (and most watched) cultural events of the year.”
You have to ask yourself: Will the NFL and FOX, which broadcast the Super Bowl, allow Kendrick to use the pedophile lyrics when he performs?
Interestingly, Drake doesn't take direct action against Kendrick in the lawsuit – in fact, he says, “This lawsuit is it.” not about the artist who created “Not Like Us.” Instead, it's all about UMG, the music company that decided to release, promote, exploit and monetize the song that it knew contained false claims.
As for the ways the song has put Drake in danger… he points out that there have been since Kendrick released the mega-hit several shootings in or near his Toronto mansion, one of which ended with one of his security guards being shot.
The music industry — and fans of Kendrick and Drake — thought Drake was taking a step back from the litigation because he filed a motion Tuesday to dismiss a lawsuit he filed against UMG and Spotify in New York state court. According to our sources, this was simply to clear the way for this new federal case.