Drake Scores Legal Victory in Battle Over Kendrick Lamar Diss Track
In a major development in the ongoing legal war between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, a New York judge has granted Drake access to Kendrick’s recording contracts and internal Universal Music Group (UMG) documents, including executive salaries and bonuses.
The decision came as part of Drake’s defamation lawsuit against UMG over Kendrick’s chart-topping diss track Not Like Us, which the Canadian rapper claims contains “false and malicious” allegations portraying him as a paedophile.
Judge Orders Discovery to Proceed
Despite UMG’s attempt to pause discovery while its motion to dismiss the case is being reviewed, Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled on Wednesday that the evidence-gathering process must move forward.
Drake’s legal team hailed the ruling. “Now it’s time to see what UMG was so desperately trying to hide,” said his lawyer Michael Gottlieb.
According to court filings, Drake is seeking:
- Kendrick Lamar’s contracts with UMG
- Executive compensation details from 2020 onward
- Records relating to the promotion and distribution of Not Like Us
A Feud Turned Legal Firestorm
The lawsuit stems from a series of explosive diss tracks traded between the two rap titans in 2024. Lamar’s Not Like Us, which accuses Drake and his crew of being “certified paedophiles,” became a cultural moment and his first UK number one, especially after his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.
Drake alleges UMG knowingly promoted defamatory content for profit and even colluded with Spotify to boost streaming numbers—a claim both UMG and Spotify deny.
UMG, which has been Drake’s label for over a decade, dismissed the lawsuit as “illogical,” arguing that it was an attempt to censor artistic expression after Drake “lost a rap battle that he provoked.”
Deepening Divide
The case highlights how personal the feud has become. UMG claims Drake willingly engaged in back-and-forth diss tracks and now seeks to “weaponise the legal process.” Drake, meanwhile, argues the line was crossed when allegations about criminal behaviour were made and platformed by the label.
Kendrick Lamar has not publicly commented since the lawsuit began.
What’s Next?
The court will consider UMG’s motion to dismiss on June 30. If the case proceeds, it could set a precedent in balancing freedom of artistic expression with legal accountability for defamation—especially in the high-stakes world of celebrity and hip hop.
Until then, the rap world—and the music industry—will be watching closely.
