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Drake’s legal battle over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us just took another turn, with Universal Music Group (UMG) asking a federal judge to shut down all discovery requests in the case.
Drake’s lawsuit accuses UMG of playing a key role in pushing the song, which he claims caused him real-world harm. As part of the case, his legal team has requested extensive records, including contracts between UMG and Kendrick Lamar, as well as financial details about Interscope CEO John Janick’s compensation. However, UMG argues that these demands are excessive, irrelevant, and place an unnecessary burden on the company, according to Variety.
Drake’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb of Willkie Farr and Gallagher, fired back, calling UMG’s attempt to block discovery a strategic move to hide crucial information. “It’s no surprise that UMG is desperate to avoid discovery,” Gottlieb said. “This is just a delay tactic to keep documents and communications buried. If UMG has nothing to hide, it shouldn’t have a problem handing them over.”
This latest legal maneuver comes after UMG previously tried to get the case dismissed altogether. The label argues that Drake is essentially suing because he lost a rap battle and is trying to nurse his wounds in court. UMG maintains that it did nothing wrong by distributing Not Like Us, stating that the track is full of opinion-based jabs and rhetorical flair, not actual defamatory claims.
Adding another layer of irony, UMG pointed out that Drake has historically been a champion of free speech in music, even signing a petition against using rap lyrics as legal evidence. The company argues that while Drake was right to defend artistic expression before, he’s wrong to claim defamation now just because he’s on the receiving end of a diss track.
At its core, UMG believes Drake’s case is weak. The company insists it was simply following standard industry practices in promoting Lamar’s song and that Drake is looking for someone to blame for the backlash he faced after the rap battle. Whether the court agrees remains to be seen.