Drake’s ongoing legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG) is making waves in the music industry as the rapper opens up about his grievances and drive to stand up for fairness. The lawsuit, filed by Drake’s company Frozen Moments LLC, accuses UMG and Spotify of unfair practices, including manipulating streaming numbers for Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.”
Drake alleges that UMG and Spotify collaborated to artificially inflate the success of Lamar’s track using bots and payola schemes. He claims these actions deliberately diverted attention away from his music and tarnished his reputation. The diss track, according to Drake, contains defamatory lyrics labeling him as a sexual predator—a narrative he insists UMG had a duty to prevent.
In a leaked Instagram DM shared by influencer Chris Blake Griffith—later deleted—Drake offered a deeper look into his perspective.
“Me and Universal is like if Nike was funding a campaign about LeBron cheating on his wife,”
He wrote, emphasizing the betrayal he feels from the label he’s worked with since his career began.
“Not Adidas or Reebok… Nike the company he been with since he started. My situation is not no street sh*t.”
Drake’s message went beyond personal grievances.
“Everybody before me that tried the label was too eccentric, so they wrote them off as crazy and never had to pay for their sins and mistakes,” he continued. “I’m going to change that and make the building safer for every artist moving forward.”
This sentiment reflects Drake’s determination to make the music industry less about exploitation and more about creativity and fairness. For fans, this is a rare glimpse into how deeply Drake values the artistry behind his music. His strong lyrics often tell personal stories, and this legal battle aligns with his commitment to staying true to himself and his fan base.
But the drama doesn’t stop there. Social media has been buzzing with speculation about a deleted photo from Dennis Graham’s Instagram page. The picture reportedly featured a young girl, sparking wild theories.
Some Kendrick fans speculate the child is the secret daughter mentioned in “Meet The Grahams,” while others suggest she could be a relative from Drake’s extended family. Adding fuel to the fire, Drake’s recent “Fighting Irish Freestyle” hints at family dynamics that fans are eager to decode.
The lawsuit has sparked divided opinions. Some fans see it as a bold move to challenge systemic issues within the industry, while others view it as unnecessary drama. Industry insiders have also weighed in. Rapsody criticized Drake’s approach, calling it overly dramatic for a rap feud, while TDE’s Punch described the situation as a low point in the current music scene.
“Drake is what Kendrick said he was,” wrote one user, suggesting desperation on Drake’s part. Meanwhile, others praised him for highlighting artist rights and pushing for transparency in a notoriously opaque industry.
Spotify has denied involvement in manipulating streaming numbers and questioned the validity of Drake’s allegations. UMG, on the other hand, has yet to issue a public response to the lawsuit.
A Texas court hearing scheduled for December 20, 2024, was delayed due to a miscommunication and rescheduled for January 13, 2025. This delay adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious legal battle.
Drake has emphasized that his lawsuit isn’t just about personal vindication.
“This is about accountability,” he stated. “Labels and streaming platforms need to understand that artists aren’t just products; we’re people with stories and legacies.”
