The legal clash between Drake and Kendrick Lamar escalates, with Drake gaining access to Lamar's recording contracts amid allegations of defamation related to Lamar’s provocative song, "Not Like Us."
**Drake Granted Access to Kendrick Lamar's Contracts in Defamation Battle**
**Drake Granted Access to Kendrick Lamar's Contracts in Defamation Battle**
Court ruling enables Drake to obtain sensitive documents as his lawsuit against Kendrick intensifies.
Drake, one of the music industry's most prominent figures, has received approval to delve into sensitive documents concerning Kendrick Lamar's contracts as part of his ongoing defamation lawsuit. The rap sensation accuses Lamar and his label Universal Music Group (UMG) of disseminating a "false and malicious narrative" that portrays him as a paedophile through the lyrics of Lamar's song "Not Like Us."
In recent court dealings, Drake's legal team requested not only Lamar's recording contract but also insights into executive bonuses and salaries at UMG. This legal battle comes as Drake contends that the label has failed to protect him, allowing Lamar's song to undermine his reputation. Universal has filed for the dismissal of the lawsuit, branding it an "illogical" attempt to suppress Lamar's artistic expression, and sought a stay on the evidence-gathering phase.
However, Judge Jeannette A Vargas ruled in favor of continuing the discovery process. Following the ruling, Drake's lead attorney, Michael Gottlieb, expressed satisfaction, stating, "Now it’s time to see what UMG was so desperately trying to hide."
In court filings, Drake's team is pursuing documents dating back to 2020 that include all contractual agreements between UMG and Kendrick Lamar, along with details on the incentive plans for senior executives. UMG has contended that compiling this commercially sensitive data would impose an "undue burden," especially as the case could still be dismissed.
Drake’s lawsuit adds yet another layer to the contentious history between the two artists, marked by disagreements that surfaced in their music. In past tracks, Drake has accused Lamar of domestic abuse, while Lamar's “Not Like Us” takes aim at Drake and his associates, alleging they should be registered sex offenders.
Drake asserts that UMG was aware of the inaccuracies within Lamar's lyrics but opted to promote the controversy for profit. Notably, the lawsuit also claims collusion between UMG and Spotify to artificially boost streaming numbers for "Not Like Us," an allegation both companies have refuted.
In response to the allegations, Universal argued that the claims made by Drake are unfounded and that they would never seek to damage the reputation of any artist, particularly Drake himself. The label pointed out that Drake has historically leveraged UMG for promotional purposes, turning rap feuds into artistic expression.
"Not Like Us" has achieved remarkable success and became Kendrick Lamar’s first number one hit in the UK, following an electrifying performance during the Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year. The ongoing legal drama between these two musical titans continues to attract significant attention in the industry.
